Decentralization, Provincial Systems, and the Challenge of Equity: High Participation Higher Education in Canada

This chapter provides a detailed and extensive assessment of the Canadian high participation system (HPS) of higher education. It considers the history of Canadian higher education, system development, and the present condition of higher education in the country. System de-centralization is especially remarkable when comparing Canadian higher education to other HPS. Each Canadian province has substantial authority over higher education within its borders, and while the federal-central government plays a role, it is less involved in provision than in most other HPS. The chapter examines Canadian higher education in light of the seventeen HPS propositions. The Canadian case supports most propositions. However, the system is less stratified and produces more equitable outcomes than are suggested by the propositions.