Which term describes the relationship between the federal and provincial governments after Confederation?

• A. Federalism
• B. Unitarianism
• C. Autarchy
• D. Isolationism

Answer: (A)

Federalism describes the way sovereignty is shared between a central government and regional governments. After Confederation, Canada established a constitutional framework that divides powers between Parliament and provincial legislatures, so national matters like defense and currency are handled federally, while provincial areas such as education and health care are managed at the provincial level. This arrangement allows national unity while preserving regional autonomy, with disputes resolved under constitutional rules. The other options describe centralized control (unitarianism), self-sufficiency (autarchy), or a foreign-policy stance of avoiding entanglements (isolationism), none of which capture the two-tier system that defines Canada’s governance after Confederation.