Introduction
China as a republic is a communist state having gained power in 1949. China, which is the most populated country across the world have had very strong systems of governments both as the central government level and at the local government level. This can be traced back from the leadership of the very first leader of the communist state, Tse Tung Mao who in his own capacity publicized the role of local governments i.e. he recognized the role that the local governments played in collecting taxes and at the same time using to invest to the public. However, when he died, China, decided to adopt an economy that is market based and since 1976 it has been on gradual moves towards this market. The market based economy is where the central government has almost every control on the economy. Though this way, the central government at the same time does exercise political control resulting to a mixed and complex influence of both specific individuals and locals. The market economy allows the central government to give opportunities to specific individuals and groups who are ready to invest in the different parts of the country. (Spence, 34)
The structure of the local government in China is very complex. Currently China has twenty two provinces, it has five independent regions and finally provincial municipalities are only four. The local government is under the office of the premier who chairs the state council. The state council is composed of the vice premiers, the secretary general of state, the state councilors, auditor general and the commission ministers. The state council is in full control of the local government and makes decisions on behalf of the ruling party. There are also the local representatives of the ruling party and the standings of the local committees are produced at the county level onwards by the local congress of the people. These people, the representatives are therefore under the state council and obey it to the latter.
In China, it is known all over that the role of the local government is to help in the achievement of both social and economic objectives to help the entire citizens of China. This should include the long and short term planning to achievement of elements including infrastructure, both acquisition and maintenances, and the rule of law at large, in addition to money which is also a necessity. This is the major objective of the local government in China. (Elisabeth, 99)
On the other hand the Canadian government is the federal type and it exists in four levels i.e. the biggest government is the federal one which is also the national government, then the provincial, the territorial government and finally the local government comes last. The national or the federal government is the overall government and it includes the prime minister of the republic and the state parliament. This government is responsible for the jurisdictions on matters that affect all the citizens of Canada. Federal government which is also known as the government of Canada has the responsibility and the authority to govern the Canadian territories. In Canada, there is a separate election for the local governments. The provincial government has its own institutions; these include the legislatures and the provincial premiers who are in charge of the province. This government also has its jurisdictions and it is governed by the constitution of the people of Canada. This means that all powers that the central government can exercise on the local government are spelt in their constitution. Finally the local government has the responsibilities that are in one way or the other touches the local people, the local communities. This government has its own institutions and leaders who are politically elected, they include the mayors who are also called the reeves, the councilors among others. (Tindal, 54)
The local government in Canada does a number of functions. The local government functions may vary from one province to the other or even within a province such a difference can be noticed. However, the major functions of the local governments include protecting property of the individuals in the country, planning and developing the environment use, construction and management of public utilities among others like creating and managing the social welfare of the people.
Comparison between the Chinese local government and the Canadian local government
Secondly, in China just like in any other country, the local government is responsible for the collection of the taxes and revenues, however, in China, every local government has got its own strategy of collecting this kind of income. In addition, the same central government has its own allocation to the respective local governments and all submissions are subjected to auditing by the state council. Despite the fact that the local governments are allowed to budget but there are a lot of restrictions and finally large portions of the local government collections go to the central government. This proves that there is no autonomy of these local governments except a few which can bargain well on the collection and because of lack of autonomy; there is manipulation from the state council. This results to an imbalanced distribution of national resources and development. However, in Canada, the system is fair enough and it is constitutionally recognized that a standard potion of the total revenue collected belongs to the local governments. Thus when developments are done by the central government there is no favoritism or biasness. Through this we find that developments in Canada are a bit fair as compared to China. They are likely to take place and succeed than those in China because of this kind of organization.
Thirdly, China’s to adopt the market economy has enabled the country to open up to investments. This gives several rooms to several rooms and opportunities to invest in the country. Though this initiative is goods but it is implemented in some municipal councils. This creates imbalance in areas i.e. some areas benefit more and thus develop more. However, this initiative is a challenge to every part of the local sector to improve on their strategies to welcome more investors. This brings competition among the local government levels. This is a way of increasing the chances to various sectors in the government. In Canada the system is a bit fair but at the same time encourages laziness. This is a challenge that the local governments in Canada do face. It calls for a better way or strategy to improve the delivery of the local governments at large.
The government of China can make use of globalization to make use of developed systems. Through globalization, the Chinese government can sent some of its representatives for bench marking and bring the ideas home. Through this, they are able to create in the country a system that is comparable to the systems like that of Canada. Through such moves the Chinese government will be able to improve on its systems and the style of governance.
It is also wise for the Chinese government to adopt the capitalized system economy in order to benefit those who generally work hard and smartly. Adopting the market economy is not bad but we find that it benefits just a few in the big and developed cities for instance in the eastern China. However in other parts of the country this system has led to high rates of poverty to the majority of the population not only elsewhere but also in the big cities where a few people are rich. These cities include Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. The number of frustrated middle class people is on the rise. They are so many and thus unemployment rate is also high and because of this, the difference between them and those who are not learned and those who do not work is negligible. Despite the fact that the market economy has brought opportunities to the people and investors but it majorly favors the rich who are not much.
The economy in China can also be improved by restructuring the enterprises that are owned by the state to reform the ownership of the enterprises in the towns and villages. This is a major road that when the Chinese government takes will help so much in the expanding opportunities to the majority of the people. Secondly, the state owned enterprises do encourage laziness amongst the workers. They do not take the responsibility to take control of these enterprises for they know that finally the loss will be to the government. So, it will be appropriate that the government restructures the enterprises ownership to allow serious investors to take charge and develop the country at large.
On the issue of transparency of the local government, the municipal governments especially that of shanghai and Beijing tried back in 2003 to introduce or rather adopt a strategy that will improve on the accessibility to the information concerning the use and availability of the funds. They introduced the system of using the spokesman and at the same time encouraging the weekly conferences, sometimes they can have these twice in a week. Also the government of Guangzhou tried another way of proposing the open government information. However this alone is not enough. They are on the right track to achieving the transparency that is needed in the local government but as long as they will still be answerable to the state council, all these may be in vain. This is the bitter side of the truth in these attempts. It may also develop a culture of just giving wrong information to the public. Also we find that in 2004, the national audit office incorporated the local government in the auditing process. This is a major step to enhance transparency. (Jao, 61)
The coordination and the support the Canadian local authorities get from central government are awesome. The Canadian system also has in place a number of structures that help improve their local governance. Through the offices system managers at various levels, there is a lot of interaction between these people and the central government. They provide all the local authorities with support. The central government helps so much to improve the social structures and also in issues that affect the local governments like corruption are eliminated with anyway possible. This is the kind of relationship that should exist in China. It is not fair when the central government pretends that it is separate from the local government and yet at the same time they influence its decision making and actions at the expense of the public.
Conclusion
There are many challenges that are posed by globalization. At the same time there are several advantages that come by it. If we can learn, then the Chinese government can also learn. If we can adopt then the Chinese government can also do it. Thus we can simply propose to the Chinese government to open up to the people of China and adopt a system that benefits all the citizens and not a few people. This is what we find valuable in the local governance. Also, the Chinese central government should improve its interaction with the local government and should therefore create more offices to enhance the transparency and its support to the local governments. On the issue of tax and revenue collection, the government at large should borrow ideas and skills from its neighbors. Creating targets to specific local governments sometimes is intimidating and can act as a away of looking down upon other levels.
The central government should also take part in restructuring some basic structures of the country in different local government levels. For instance, this role is delegated to the respective local governments. This is very burdening and you find that local authorities with low income will barely benefit from such strategies. The central government can produce the some guidelines and take control of the major parts of the economy that they would like to deal with and not leaving everything with the local governments. For instance it can decide to take control of roads, constructing and repairing roads. By taking some responsibilities, the use of the local government’s money will be more appealing and thus developing trust in the citizens.
The Canadian government on the other hand should enhance more strict laws to safeguard the local government from corrupt leaders, and at the same time improving their ways forward by creating more avenues of getting more income to improve their income and their structuring. The efficiency and effectiveness of the local government can therefore be evidenced in that the less effective leaders and systems will be done away with and the best are introduced to take charge. This can also be achieved through sharing with people and the professionals who understand the systems better.
Works cited:
Elisabeth J. P and Christine W. (Eds) Reform in Post-Mao China. Harvard University Press, 1985
Jao Y. C. and Chi L. (Eds) China’s Special Economic Zones OUP China, 1987
Richmond & David S Public Administration of Canada, Toronto, 1994
Spence, J. D. The Modern China. WW Norton & Company publishing, 1991
Tindal, R & Tindal, S. Local Government in Canada Thompson Learning, Ontario, 2000
