Civil-Military Cooperation in Canada

摘要

Canadian's have not always immediately perceived the use of Canada's armed forces during domestic emergencies in a positive light — an attitude, pervasive then as now, that may have influenced the Fathers of Confederation to establish a clear and restrictive separation of emergency powers between federal and provincial authorities. Under subsection 91(7) of the Constitution Act of 1867, Canada's armed forces were placed under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, a measure that even today limits how and to what extent civilian authorities may call upon Canada's military for assistance during times of marked internal crisis. As a counter to this potentially overwhelming parliamentary power, the maintenance of public safety was placed within the exclusive legislative authority of the provinces.