Category Archives: Caretaker Convention & Government Formation

Who Made This Statement About Government Formation in Minority Parliaments?

Posted on 2013/06/10 by J.W.J. Bowden

“Whichever party gets the most votes and the most seats, if not an absolute majority, has the first right to seek to govern, either on its own or by reaching out to other parties.” I hope that the Canadian media … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Crown (Powers and Office), Formation of Governments | 3 Comments

Quebec Does Not Love Coalitions

Posted on 2012/09/02 by J.W.J. Bowden

As the election campaign in Quebec comes down to the wire, many journalists have mused on the possible outcomes, which now center on either a majority PQ government, or a minority PQ government, or a minority CAQ government. Pauline Marois … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Coalition Government, Constitutional Conventions, Formation of Governments | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Peter Russell on the Prorogation-Coalition Controversy of 2008

Posted on 2012/06/25 by J.W.J. Bowden

Russell’s Errors of Interpretation on Prorogation Ontario News Watch uploaded an interview with Peter Russell on 25 June 2012, in which he displayed his unalloyed Forseyite interpretation of the reserve powers. Russell made several demonstrably incorrect assertions throughout the interview, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Coalition Government, Conferences and Speeches, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Formation of Governments, Governor's Discretion, Prime Minister's Powers, Prorogation, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Evolution of the Principle of Restraint (Caretaker Convention) in Canada

Posted on 2012/01/31 by J.W.J. Bowden

Once again, the Manual of Official Procedure of the Government of Canada has proven indispensible as an historical resource! The Appendices contains the “Order in Council cancelling Appointments made on Macdonald’s Resignation (1873)”. I have uploaded this excerpt as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Crown (Powers and Office), Governor's Discretion, Officialization of Convention, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Development of Responsible Government and the Principle of Restraint (Caretaker Convention)

Posted on 2011/09/12 by J.W.J. Bowden

Responsible Government The famous Persons Case (more formally, Reference re: British North America Act 1867 (UK) Section 24 IN THE MATTER OF a Reference as to the meaning of the word “Persons” in Section 24 of the British North America … Continue reading →

Posted in Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Officialization of Convention, Responsible Government | 4 Comments