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.

Changing the Names of Ridings from Redistribution 2022, Part 2

Posted on 2026/06/15 by J.W.J. Bowden

Since last I wrote on “The Last Gasp of Redistribution 2022: Changing the Names of Ridings” in early April, the House of Commons debated Bill C-25 (part II of which contains the Riding Name Change Act, 2026), at Second Reading, … Continue reading →

Posted in Electoral Boundaries Readjustments | Leave a comment

My First Academic Books

Posted on 2026/05/11 by J.W.J. Bowden

I recently completed my first two books, twin scholarly monographs entitled Representation by Population in the House of Commons of Canada and Where to Draw the Line: Readjusting Federal Electoral Boundaries in Canada. The first covers the history and practice … Continue reading →

Posted in Electoral Boundaries Readjustments, My Published Works | 2 Comments

The Smith Government Exploits the Flaws of Alberta’s Electoral Boundaries Commission Act

Posted on 2026/04/21 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction Alberta’s Electoral Boundaries Commission Act contains key structural flaws that encouraged a judge to exercise poor judgement and gave Premier Smith an opening to exploit. First, in all other provinces and in Ottawa, an electoral boundaries commission consists of … Continue reading →

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Upcoming Articles for the Spring of 2026

Posted on 2026/04/07 by J.W.J. Bowden

Repealing Fixed-Date Election Laws Nova Scotia, the last province to adopt a fixed-date elections law in 2021, also became the first to repeal one in March 2025. The hegemony of these laws lasted only four years. More significant still, Ontario … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixed-Date Elections, History of British North America, My Published Works | Leave a comment

The Last Gasp of Redistribution 2022: Changing the Names of Ridings

Posted on 2026/04/03 by J.W.J. Bowden

The last round of Federal Electoral Boundaries Commissions (FEBCs) finished their work in 2023, and the Governor-in-Council proclaimed the electoral maps – names and boundaries both – of 340 federal electoral districts under the Representation Orders, 2023. Canadians first voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Electoral Boundaries Readjustments | 1 Comment