Research publications

This HillStudy examines trends in youth voter turnout for federal elections in Canada from 1965 to 2021 and considers the effects of declining voter participation on Canadian democracy. It explores determinants of Canadian youth voter participation as examined through various surveys and studies. Finally, it highlights initiatives to encourage youth engagement in federal elections.

Understanding economic statistics and federal government finances can be complex. Through a series of questions and answers, this HillStudy explores key economic and financial concepts, including production: gross domestic product (GDP); inflation: consumer price index; nominal and real GDP; raw and seasonally adjusted data; accrual and cash-based accounting; financial and calendar year; income distribution and poverty; government accounts; government revenues and expenditures; public service workforce; budgetary balance; financial and non-financial assets and liabilities; and·government debt and accumulated deficit.

Section 43 of the Criminal Code, which expressly offers parents and teachers a defence for using reasonable force to discipline a child, is a controversial provision of Canada’s criminal law. Recent decades have seen a growing movement to end all forms of physical punishment of children and youth in Canada, including through the repeal of section 43. Legislation to repeal section 43 was introduced in both the House of Commons and the Senate as recently as 2022. Other advocates, while acknowledging that abuse is never justified, have argued that minor physical correction is acceptable in certain circumstances and that individuals should not risk criminal prosecution as a result of their parenting techniques

The bilingualism bonus is a sum of $800 that is paid to certain categories of public servants. Created in 1977 in the context of linguistic tensions within the federal public service in Quebec, the bonus was intended to be an interim measure, but instead, it has been maintained without being indexed. Today, the bonus costs the Government of Canada more than $90 million annually and represents less than 1% of the average salary a public servant earns. This HillStudy presents the history of the bilingualism bonus and discusses the questions raised about its usefulness and its future as an incentive to encourage bilingualism in the federal public service. It uses archival documents, House of Commons debates and newspaper articles to trace the history from its introduction to the present day, and to summarize its financial impact.

This HillStudy explores the rules that govern the use of both official languages in Canada’s justice system, with particular focus on the role of the federal government in that regard. First, it provides an overview of Canada’s court system, then it examines the legislative and constitutional framework for judicial bilingualism in a federal context, both in federal courts and in criminal law. Lastly, it looks at a number of current issues related to the use of both official languages in Canada’s court system.

Section 33(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the Charter) permits Parliament or the legislature of a province to adopt legislation to override certain rights and freedoms for a limited period, subject to renewal. This HillStudy sets out the content of section 33, the sequence of events leading to its adoption in 1981, and the way in which its drafters, parliamentarians and others at the time expected it would be used. It then goes on to describe the circumstances in which the notwithstanding clause has been invoked. Lastly, it presents a number of arguments for and against the use of the clause.

The distribution of legislative powers among the various levels of government isa key feature of federalism. To guide this distribution, the Constitution Act, 1867 divides legislative powers between the Parliament of Canada and the provincial legislatures. These powers are set out in sections 91 to 95 of the Constitution Act, 1867. However, simply reading these provisions is not usually enough to determine which level of government has jurisdiction over which area. As new areas emerge and legislative authority becomes increasingly complex, questions remain, notably the following: Which areas fall under the jurisdiction of each level of government? Does a given level of government have the necessary authority to make laws in these areas? Canadian courts are regularly asked to consider these issues and, over time, have established some interpretive principles. The answers, nonetheless, remain complex. This HillStudy focuses on the distribution of legislative powers between Parliament and the provincial legislatures in selected areas. First, it briefly describes the provisions of the Constitution Act, 1867 that concern legislative powers. Second, it examines how certain powers were assigned to the appropriate level of government in light of the interpretive principles established by the courts.

The purpose of Canada’s retirement income system is twofold: to alleviate poverty among seniors and to help seniors who are better off to avoid significant declines in living standards when they retire. This HillStudy outlines the different components of the system, who they target, how much they cost and how they are financed. Canada's retirement income system is typically described as having three pillars. The first pillar provides benefits based on age and years of residence in Canada. It includes the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), the Allowance and the Age Credit. The second pillar consists of mandatory earnings-related programs: the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and, in Quebec, the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP). The third pillar is composed of workplace registered pension plans (RPPS) and private savings (RRSPs) and Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs).

The law relating to MAID and its practice by health care providers continues to evolve in Canada. This HillStudy highlights some of the key developments that have taken place in Canada in the wake of the Carter decision.