Author Archives: J.W.J. Bowden

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About J.W.J. Bowden

My area of academic expertise lies in Canadian political institutions, especially the Crown, political executive, and conventions of Responsible Government; since 2011, I have made a valuable contribution to the scholarship by having been published and cited extensively. I’m also a contributing editor to the Dorchester Review and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law.

Happy Belated National Flag of Canada Day!

Posted on 2024/02/19 by J.W.J. Bowden

While I was looking at the proposals of the first iteration of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commissions published in part I of the Canada Gazette in 1965, an unusual splash of colour amidst the drab black and white pages caught my eye. … Continue reading →

Posted in History of British North America | 1 Comment

The Gerrymander of 1882

Posted on 2024/01/03 by J.W.J. Bowden

If Canadians think of electoral redistribution at all, they might hold this vague notion that Canada eliminated partisan gerrymandering by delegating the task from politicians to independent boundaries commissions. They might also recall having read or heard something in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Electoral Boundaries Readjustments | Leave a comment

British Columbia & Ontario Would Each Already Gain 1 New MP under the Latest Population Estimates of Q4 2023

Posted on 2023/12/31 by J.W.J. Bowden

The House of Commons will expand yet further in 2031 once the Population Estimates for 1 July 2031 become available.   On 19 December 2023, Statistics Canada’s most recent population estimates for 1 October 2023,which showed the largest growth in … Continue reading →

Posted in Electoral Boundaries Readjustments | 1 Comment

Quebec Acknowledges Saskatchewan’s Unilateral Constitutional Amendment in Its Updated Administrative Consolidation of the Constitution Act, 1867

Posted on 2023/11/14 by J.W.J. Bowden

On 14 November 2023, the Government of Quebec updated its administrative consolidation of the Constitution Acts to what should be its 4th edition and recognised a constitutional amendment that the legislature of Saskatchewan added to the text of section 90 … Continue reading →

Posted in Amending Formulas, Consolidations, Constitution (Written) | 1 Comment

Fixed-Date Election Laws and Voter Turnout

Posted on 2023/11/13 by J.W.J. Bowden

British Columbia became the first province to adopt fixed-date election laws in 2001, and the law first took effect for the province’s general election of 2005. Newfoundland and Labrador followed suit and enacted Canada’s second fixed-date election law in 2004, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixed-Date Elections | 1 Comment