Beginning with an examination of the role of "traditional" institutions such as Parliament, Cabinet, the Supreme Court, and political parties, "Canada: The State of the Federation 2002" affirms the long-held belief that these bodies do not provide effective forums for interregional bargaining, creating a void that has been filled at least in part by executive federalism. Contributors conclude that the performance of traditional institutions, taken as a whole, has deteriorated over the last several decades, placing more pressure on the processes of executive federalism.

Authors also focus on Canada's intergovernmental institutions, revealing that relations among federal and provincial finance ministries are becoming more disjointed. They suggest that more consistency across the institutions of intergovernmental relations will require direction from first ministers and a strengthening of the institutions of intergovernmental relations. Overcoming the present reliance on executive federalism requires not only more robust institutions of intergovernmental relations but an enhanced oversight role for Parliament and provincial legislatures. Moreover, they argue that traditional institutions and intergovernmental institutions should be reformed at the same time for optimal results in terms of federalism and democracy.

Contributors are Jacques Bourgault (Université du Québec and l'École nationale du Québec), David Cameron (University of Toronto), R. Kenneth Carty (University of British Columbia), C.E.S. Franks (Queen's University), Roger Gibbins (University of Calgary), Aaron Holdway (Queen's University), Gregory J. Inwood (Toronto Metropolitan University), Carolyn M. Johns (Toronto Metropolitan University), James B. Kelly (Concordia University), Harvey Lazar (Queen's University), Howard Leeson (University of Regina), Peter Leslie (Queen's University), J. Peter Meekison (Queen's University), Adele Mugford (DFAIT Internship, Sweden), Ronald H. Neumann (Province of Manitoba), Patricia L. O'Reilly (Toronto Metropolitan University), Martin Papillon (University of Toronto), Johanne Poirier (Free University of Brussels), Russ Robinson (consultant, Ottawa), Richard Simeon (University of Toronto), Julie M. Simmons (University of Guelph), Hamish Telford (Queen's University), and Steven B. Wolinetz (Memorial University of Newfoundland).