Writing at The Walrus, Stephen Marche marvels about the current interest in Canada, particularly among U.S. liberals. He attributes it to Canada's ability to implement policy.
Marche doesn't say so, but the difference is Canada having a parliamentary system. Their national leader has a majority in the only legislative house that matters and can pass what he and his colleagues choose.
The U.S. government is based on the notion that most things government might want to do should not, in fact, be done. So the founders made it difficult to set in place new policies.
We have a presidential veto, they have none. We have two houses with different electoral cycles both of which must pass any new policy. Our Supreme Court can strike down a passed law if it is found to contradict the Constitution.
We should not be surprised, therefore, that Canada has a more activist government than does the U.S. It is their chosen modality, it is not ours'.
