In some periods of Canadian history, the federal government has been especially active regarding exercising its constitutional powers across the country, while in other periods it has been less activist. The same is true of provincial governments.

Identify the key historical periods that reveal these changes in activism between federal and provincial governments and explain them (i.e. major economic, social, cultural, environmental and political factors) from your perspective beginning with the Post World War II era and ending with contemporary developments.

Based on your findings, propose what level of activism the Federal and Provincial Governments should have in this most recent, contemporary period. What level of government should push the agenda, and why, to respond to the country's major, contemporary economic and political challenges as you see them?