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.

Who Decides What the Constitution Is and Says? Quebec Modifies the Text of the Constitution Act, 1867

Posted on 2022/06/29 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction Law 96 has generated controversy and opposition amongst English-speakers in Quebec and, to a lesser extent, in the rest of Canada when the Legislature of Quebec enacted it last week for its provisions on language. But it contains one … Continue reading →

Posted in Amending Formulas, Consolidations, Constitution (Written), Indirect Amendment | 2 Comments

The Strange Taboo Against Constitutional Amendment in Canada

Posted on 2022/05/17 by J.W.J. Bowden

Reputedly Unamendable Yet Frequently Amended The Constitution of Canada has gained a reputation for having become unamendable and ossified since 1992 when Canadians rejected the proposed Charlottetown Accord in a country-wide referendum and brought the era mega-constitutional amendment to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Amending Formulas, Constitution (Written) | 3 Comments

Democracy Watch Wishes That It Could Quit the Fixed-Date Election Law

Posted on 2022/04/22 by J.W.J. Bowden

  Introduction  Democracy Watch touts itself as “the most effective and successful national citizen advocacy group in Canada at winning systemic changes to key laws since […] 1993.”[1] But it has certainly not met with success in its quixotic crusade … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections, Watching Democracy Watch | 5 Comments

What Conservative MPs Said About Inflation and the Liberal-New Democratic Entente

Posted on 2022/04/19 by J.W.J. Bowden

“We can’t see it. But we’re all trapped inside these strange, repeating loops.” – The Matrix Resurrections   I recently stumbled upon what some backbench Conservative MPs said on inflation and the Liberal-New Democratic Entente. They denounced the Trudeau government … Continue reading →

Posted in Random Thoughts | Leave a comment

The Importance of Narrative in Politics: The Example of Cabinet Manuals in Canada

Posted on 2022/03/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

Sometimes the narrative surrounding an issue and the way that someone presents an issue overshadows the facts of the matter. Take, for instance, the case of the Guide for Ministers in Canada and this issue of cabinet manuals which some … Continue reading →

Posted in Constitutional Conventions, Officialization of Convention | 1 Comment