Category Archives: Caretaker Convention

Conservative Partisans Celebrate the Wrong Date! Transitions Between Ministries in Canada


Prime Ministerial succession does not occur automatically and instantaneously under our constitution, but only after a transition of two to three weeks, after the outgoing Prime Minister has tendered his formal resignation to the Governor, and after the Governor has … Continue reading

Posted in Appointment of PM, Caretaker Convention, Constitution (Conventional), Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Succession (Prime Minister) | 1 Comment

The Evolution of the Principle of Restraint (Caretaker Convention) in Canada


Once again, the Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada has proven indispensible as an historical resource! The Appendices contains the “Order in Council cancelling Appointments made on Macdonald’s Resignation (1873)”. I have uploaded this excerpt as a … Continue reading

Posted in Caretaker Convention, Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Officialization of Convention, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Development of Responsible Government and the Principle of Restraint (Caretaker Convention)


Responsible Government The famous Persons Case (more formally, Reference re: British North America Act 1867 (UK) Section 24 IN THE MATTER OF a Reference as to the meaning of the word “Persons” in Section 24 of the British North America … Continue reading

Posted in Caretaker Convention, Officialization of Convention, Responsible Government | 3 Comments

Guidelines on the Caretaker Convention


Former Clerk of the Privy Council Mel Cappe wrote an introductory piece The Caretaker Convention in Canada arguing that the Privy Council Office should release its official guidelines on the caretaker convention that place limitations on the government’s authority during … Continue reading

Posted in Caretaker Convention, Officialization of Convention | 12 Comments