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.

Why John Turner “Had No Option”


My hard copy of the latest issue of the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law arrived in the mail yesterday – delayed, presumably, by the Newmans of the postal strike – including my article on why John Turner sincerely believed … Continue reading

Posted in Appointment of PM, Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), My Published Works | 2 Comments

Justin Trudeau Had an Epiphany and Endorsed My Doctrine on Prorogation


On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, the Prime Minister gave to me his second tactical prorogation and endorsed what I had written in 2011. Introduction At around 10:45 on the morning of 6 January 2025 – the Feast of Epiphany … Continue reading

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Prorogation | 3 Comments

My New Article on Canadian Sub-Imperialism in the Commonwealth Caribbean 


The Canadian Foreign Policy Journal pleasantly surprised me on 18 December by publishing the electronic version of my article “From Sea to Sea to the Caribbean Sea: Canadian Sub-Imperialism in the British West Indies and Commonwealth Caribbean, 1917-2014.” I had … Continue reading

Posted in Caribbean Realms, Commonwealth Realms, Comparative, My Published Works | Leave a comment

Savoie ne sait pas: The Governor General of Canada Does Not Unadjourn the House of Commons


The Governor General does not decide when the House of Commons or the Senate come out of an adjournment and resume sitting. The House of Commons and Senate vote to adjourn themselves and to resume sitting, but the Crown summons, … Continue reading

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Parliament, Prorogation, Speaker of the House of Commons | 3 Comments

All I Want for Christmas Is a Constitutional Crisis


The Most Chaotic Week in Ottawa Since February 1963 Chrystia Freeland resigned as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister in spectacular fashion on Monday, 16 December 2024 mere hours before she would have delivered the Fall Economic Update in … Continue reading

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Prorogation | 1 Comment