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.

Lagassé and Bowden on the Crown as Corporation Sole and Royal Succession

Posted on 2014/04/04 by J.W.J. Bowden

Philippe Lagassé and I have written a short article on the Crown of Canada as a corporation sole and how this fundamental attribute of the Crown pertains to royal succession and section 41(a) of the Constitution Act, 1982. I’d like … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporation Sole, Crown (Powers and Office), Succession (Sovereign) | 6 Comments

The Ontario Young Liberals Blur the Line Between Satire and Genuineness

Posted on 2014/03/29 by J.W.J. Bowden

I hope that my regular readers won’t mind that this post presents a cultural critique rather than the sorts of subjects on which I typically write. Those of you who have watched House of Cards (either the British version or … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Political Parties | Leave a comment

Premier Marois Copies Prime Minister Harper: The Futility of Fixed-Date Elections Laws

Posted on 2014/03/05 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction Notwithstanding Quebec’s new fixed-date election law, Premier Pauline Marois of Quebec advised the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the 40th Legislature on 5 March 2014, while the assembly was adjourned on recess and even though Marois’ single-party minority Parti Québécois … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Fixed-Date Elections, Governor's Discretion, Prime Minister's Powers, Reform | 3 Comments

Michael Ignatieff’s Fire & Ashes: An Oath of Allegiance If Necessary, But Not Necessarily to the Queen

Posted on 2013/09/29 by J.W.J. Bowden

Ignatieff Reveals His Thoughts on the Oath of Allegiance and Canada’s Constitutional Monarchy In his new autobiography of his brief stint in Canadian politics, Fire and Ashes: Success and Failure in Politics, Michael Ignatieff couched his opposition to the parliamentarians’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Corporation Sole, Crown (Powers and Office), Succession (Sovereign) | 3 Comments

Harper’s Fourth Prorogation Looks Much Like His First

Posted on 2013/09/26 by J.W.J. Bowden

I thank James Anderson for having published this column on National New Watch’s Featured Ink earlier today. Introduction Prime Minister Harper advised that the 1st session of this 41st Parliament be prorogued on 16 September 2013, and that the 2nd … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | 1 Comment