February/MARCH 2008

EDITORIAL

• Editor’s Column By Rod Macdonell
• In the News

News

• Nepal proclaims itself a ‘federal democratic republic’
• U.K. devolution hits a snag after 10 years
• Suharto’s iron fist brought 32 years of centralized stability to Indonesia
• Nigeria’s new leader promises to curb corruption, enhance services
• Malaysian PM faces pressure from ethnic and pro-democracy forces
• Kirchners swap keys to Argentina’s executive suite

Special Section:
cities AND THEIR AGENDAs

• Canada’s federal government reluctant to fund cities
• Brazil: a tale of two cities
• Brazil: another view of the two cities
• Local governments claim their space in the Spanish system
• How democracy returned to Spain
• South African cities tackle new challenges
• Cities and villages in India push for greater powers

President's page

• Words count in federations, where ‘shared-rule’ is a misnomer

All issues

You are here: Home > Products > Federations Magazine > February/March > Introduction to the Special Section

editorial

In the news

US states’ health care blocked by federal law

A federal law is preventing several US states and cities from offering universal health coverage to their residents. Some state health-care plans require employers to offer health coverage to their employees or put money into a public fund that would help pay for uninsured residents. However, a federal law now prevents states from compelling employers to provide benefits such as health coverage. This controversy has resulted in a legal battle in San Francisco that could very well determine the extent to which states can impose coverage for uninsured residents.

A new era of co-operation in Australia

Australian federal and state industrial relations ministers met in Melbourne in February to negotiate the details of doing away with the controversial WorkChoices program of former Prime Minister John Howard’s Liberal-National government. The meeting was held in the wake of the election of Kevin Rudd’s Labour government in November 2007. The WorkChoices program makes it difficult for labour unions to organize and bargain collectively.

Canadian provinces propose plan to fight climate change

British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, four Canadian provinces that account for more than half of the country’s greenhouse-gas emissions are proposing a national plan on climate change that could eclipse the federal government’s national plan to cut emissions. The federal government’s plan imposes targets on industry, but the four provinces are proposing a cap-and-trade system that would limit the amount of greenhouse gases individual polluters can emit. The environment is an area of shared jurisdiction in Canada.

Nigerian local government holds election in disputed border area

Municipal elections were held in the new Bakassi local government area of Cross River State on Jan. 26, 2008 despite a Nigerian federal High Court injunction. The area is part of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula which Nigeria had agreed in 2006 to hand over to Cameroon. The injunction barred the Cross River Independent Electoral Commission from holding an election in the municipality. The High Court is considering filing contempt charges against the chairman and members of the Commission.

- Rod Macdonell, Senior Editor

Print this article