ABSTRACT
Canada is a complex polity with a very de-centralized federal structure, meaning it potentially has fourteen “styles” rather than a single one. However, when it comes to most governments, it is possible to discern a general policy style, heavily influenced by the pressures of federalism. This is a style of “punctuated gradualism”, one of periodic reinventions of structures and processes as electoral and other pressures in general promote slow policy innovation and reinvention. However this style also features several fad-like characteristics in that, while most policies that “stick” develop slowly through laborious intergovernmental negotiations, potential innovations are often highly touted, promoted, and adopted relatively quickly but then abandoned after a short period of time. This process of gradual reform, coupled with “over-promising and under-delivering” on innovations, is common across Canadian governments. The reasons for why this occurs and why it is difficult to change are set out in this chapter.
