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.

Thoughts on How We Translate the Caretaker Convention


This follows up on and adds to my earlier entry describing my talk on government formation to Professor Philippe Lagassé’s seminar on parliamentarism, which you can read here. When Phil and I were discussing the Privy Council Office’s Guidelines on … Continue reading

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Constitutional Conventions | 1 Comment

Discussion on Government Formation at the University of Ottawa


Overall Impressions on the Discussion I thank my friend Phil Lagassé for having invited me to speak on government formation and the caretaker convention to his seminar on parliamentary government and parliamentary reform on 25 January 2015. I’ve uploaded my … Continue reading

Posted in Appointment of PM, Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Succession (Prime Minister) | 1 Comment

Succession Planning


I hope, dear readers, that you’ll permit a departure from my normal pattern of blogging and article-writing and indulge me a bit here. My managers don’t appreciate the unintentional hilarity of assigning me to working on activities relating to succession planning.  While … Continue reading

Posted in Humour | Leave a comment

Lament for A Dominion


I’m very grateful to C.P. Champion for having included my lament for the “Dominion of Canada” in the latest issue of The Dorchester Review. You can read it here: Bowden (2015) 1951: The Death of the Dominion You also read the primary … Continue reading

Posted in Dominion Day, Dorchester Review, History of British North America | 5 Comments

“Canada” Began in 1791: A Critique of the Government’s “Canada at 150” Campaign


I’m very grateful to Christopher Champion and John Robson for having edited my piece and published it in the Dorchester Review as “1791: The True Birth of Canada.” Bowden (2015) 1791 the Birth of Canada Introduction Since coming into office … Continue reading

Posted in Dorchester Review, History of British North America | 2 Comments