Category Archives: Governor’s Discretion

My Latest Article in the Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law: How Governor General Lord Aberdeen Reinforced the Caretaker Convention and Dismissed Prime Minister Tupper from Office

Posted on 2022/07/14 by J.W.J. Bowden

I first uncovered the correspondence in which Governor General Lord Aberdeen dismissed Prime Minister Sir Charles Tupper from office in July 1896 all the way back in 2012 while conducting research on something else. The documents have proven more fruitful … Continue reading →

Posted in Appointment of PM, Caretaker Convention & Government Formation, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Crown (Powers and Office), Governor General, Governor's Discretion | 2 Comments

Peter H. Russell Now Agrees With Me: What Happens When a Governor General Rejects a Prime Minister’s Constitutional Advice

Posted on 2021/08/13 by J.W.J. Bowden

For the last eight years or so, I have stated in numerous blog posts, presentations at conferences, my thesis, and several journal articles the basic precepts of the established constitutional position of the governors and prime ministers under Responsible Government. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Dissolution, Governor's Discretion, Prorogation | 3 Comments

A Star Goes Supernova: Julie Payette Resigns as Governor General

Posted on 2021/01/22 by J.W.J. Bowden

This week, we have seen the departure of a disgraced, self-serving petulant bully who left executive office with one last closing salvo of bitter recrimination and disavowal of personal responsibility for having created a toxic, dysfunctional workplace that showed absurdly … Continue reading →

Posted in Crown (Powers and Office), Governor General, Governor's Discretion | 4 Comments

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

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