Is Canada’s government democratic or hierarchical? It’s both

In assessing people’s access to political rights and civil liberties in over 200 countries, Freedom House ranks Canada higher than Britain, France, Germany, Australia, and the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, pictured Aug. 6, 2025, heading to work. All forms of government have flaws. Canada’s is not perfect, but no country’s is. Comparatively, Canada ranks highly. The Economist’s Democracy Index, using political participation as one indicator, ranks Canada 13th among 167 states, writes Nelson Wiseman. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY NELSON WISEMAN

August 19, 2025

TORONTO—Is Canada's government democratic or hierarchical? It's both, and that is good and necessary.

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