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.

Single-Member Electoral Districts Cannot Be Unconstitutional Because They Form Part of the Constitution of Canada

Posted on 2025/08/26 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction  The Ontario Court of Appeal issued a ruling in August 2025 which upheld the constitutionality of single-member electoral districts and lambasted so-called “Fair Vote British Columbia” (which for some reason litigated single-member plurality in Ontario) for having “repackage[ed] failed … Continue reading →

Posted in Amending Formulas, Constitution (Written), Electoral Boundaries Readjustments, Electoral Reform | Leave a comment

Mark Carney First Asked His Majesty the King to Deliver the Next Speech from the Throne Back in March, Says George Osbourne

Posted on 2025/06/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2010 to 2016, revealed on his podcast Political Currency on 29 May 2025 that Mark Carney had first asked His Majesty the King to open the 45th Parliament as King of Canada back … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers | Leave a comment

Review of The Crisis of Canadian Democracy by Andrew Coyne

Posted on 2025/05/24 by J.W.J. Bowden

In The Crisis of Canadian Democracy, Andrew Coyne repeats the same refrain that has made the rounds for decades but presents his polemic as if it were original. His superficial assertions seem like profound arguments at first glance, and an … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles and Books, Reviews | 1 Comment

Updates on the Reform Act and Fixed-Date Elections

Posted on 2025/05/23 by J.W.J. Bowden

Nova Scotia Shows a Better Way In February, I outlined a government bill tabled by Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, which contained a line to repeal the province’s fixed-date elections law, amongst other things. The omnibus Government Organization and … Continue reading →

Posted in Electing & Ousting Party Leaders, Fixed-Date Elections, Party Discipline | Leave a comment

More Arthur Meighen Than Brian Mulroney? Pierre Poilievre Might Soon Confront The Reform Act

Posted on 2025/04/30 by J.W.J. Bowden

Election of 2025  On 28 April 2025, we returned yet another minority parliament in the 45th federal general election. Elections Canada’s preliminary results show that this general election brought out the highest voterturnout since 1993, at 68.7% compared to 69.6% … Continue reading →

Posted in Electing & Ousting Party Leaders, Party Discipline | 1 Comment