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.

The Confidence Convention in Ontario: How the Standing Orders Kept the Wynne Government in Power

Posted on 2013/05/23 by J.W.J. Bowden

I’d like to thank James Anderson for publishing a slightly abridged version of this column on National News Watch. Introduction Proponents of democratic reform in Canada focus their efforts at the federal level and have overlooked Canada’s most populous province. … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Reform | 6 Comments

An Account of Prorogation Similar in Principle

Posted on 2013/04/15 by J.W.J. Bowden

I see that my ideas on both prorogation and the constitutional relationship between the First Minister and Governor have taken hold in a wider academic audience, as Dr. Radha Persaud has shown in his column, “Prorogation: A Matter of Restraint.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Prorogation | Leave a comment

The Wrong Way to Limit a Premier’s Power to Prorogue: Why Catherine Fife’s Bill Is Unconstitutional

Posted on 2013/03/20 by J.W.J. Bowden

My column appears in iPolitics under the title, “The Wrong Way to Limit a Premier’s Power to Prorogue.” I am grateful to Doug Beazley for having published it in the “Insight” section. The controversial prorogation of former Liberal Premier Dalton … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Prorogation | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

“Prime Minister of Ontario”: The Old Title of Leslie Frost and John Robarts

Posted on 2013/03/04 by J.W.J. Bowden

In the English language, three titles within Commonwealth Realms refer to the same office of head of government: “first minister,” “premier,” and “prime minister.”  One of my correspondents informed me of a fourth title found within the Commonwealth of Nations: … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers | Tagged , | 2 Comments

David Onley Defends Responsible Government

Posted on 2013/02/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction I’d like to thank David Watson of the Ottawa Citizen for having published my and Nick MacDonald’s column, “Onley Provides Much Needed Education.” It follows up on our earlier column from October 2012, “McGuinty Had Every Right to Prorogue,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Consultations, Crown (Powers and Office), Formation of Governments, Governor's Discretion, Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments