Author Archives: J.W.J. Bowden

Unknown's avatar

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.

The Upcoming Transfer of Power Between Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney

Posted on 2025/03/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

The Ministry Depends on the Prime Minister The Governor General’s first constitutional duty is to appoint a Prime Minister and ensure the continuity of government. The Governor General usually appoints the leader of the political party which has either an … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Crown (Powers and Office), Formation of Governments, Succession (Prime Minister) | Leave a comment

Doug Ford Wins Snap Election on an Extremely Unequal Electoral Map

Posted on 2025/03/01 by J.W.J. Bowden

The 15th Snap Election Notwithstanding a Fixed-Date Elections Law Ontarians last went to the polls during the pandemic on 2 June 2022 in accordance with section 9 of the Election Act: General elections at four-year intervals Powers of Lieutenant Governor … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixed-Date Elections | Leave a comment

Nova Scotia Poised to Repeal Its Fixed-Date Elections Law

Posted on 2025/02/19 by J.W.J. Bowden

  Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, decided on 27 October 2024 to advise the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the legislature for a snap election 7 months early instead of allowing the general … Continue reading →

Posted in Fixed-Date Elections | Leave a comment

Trump’s Tariffs Will Make America Expensive Again

Posted on 2025/02/03 by J.W.J. Bowden

Protectionism Is Cool Again Donald Trump promised to cry havoc in November 2024 as President-elect, and he hath now as President let loose the dogs of tradewar. Trump had denounced the tradedeficit between Canada and the United States, which have … Continue reading →

Posted in History of British North America | Leave a comment

Sorry, Steve Paikin, but Mackenzie King Is Not The Longest-Serving Prime Minister in the Commonwealth

Posted on 2025/01/23 by J.W.J. Bowden

The myth which holds that Mackenzie King holds the record of “Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister” persists. Steve Paikin has outdone himself now by going so far as to claim Mackenzie King holds the record of not merely Canada’s longest-serving Prime … Continue reading →

Posted in Caribbean Realms, Comparative, History of British North America | 1 Comment