Category Archives: Dorchester Review

The O Canada Bill: Third Reading Purgatory & Grammatical Pedantry

Posted on 2017/04/04 by J.W.J. Bowden

In my AP English class in 2004, I recall that several of my classmates protested against diagramming sentences on the erroneous and misplaced grounds that “Our boss will never ask us to diagram a sentence!” (Incidentally, the fact that we were using … Continue reading →

Posted in Dorchester Review, History of British North America, O Canada | 1 Comment

On Collective Ministerial Responsibility and Impeachment

Posted on 2017/01/04 by J.W.J. Bowden

Introduction: Ian Brodie’s Article in The Dorchester Review Ian Brodie, one of Stephen Harper’s former chiefs of staff who served him both as Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and as Prime Minister, contributed an interesting article to the most recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles and Books, Censure or Impeachment of Ministers, Confidence Convention, Constitutional Conventions, Dorchester Review, History of British North America, Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility, Parliament, Parliamentary Privilege, Responsible Government, Reviews, Separation of Powers | 6 Comments

1841 or 1848: When Did Responsible Government Begin?

Posted on 2017/01/03 by J.W.J. Bowden

The latest issue of The Dorchester Review contains my first little foray into this question of when Responsible Government began;  I hope to expand this initial contribution into a larger project. For now, you can read my initial findings here. The idea came … Continue reading →

Posted in Dorchester Review, History of British North America, Individual vs Collective Ministerial Responsibility, Origins, Responsible Government | 4 Comments

Justin Trudeau Has A “Basic Dictatorship” Problem

Posted on 2016/11/28 by J.W.J. Bowden

  The Root Cause of Trudeau’s Basic Dictatorship Problem Justin Trudeau has a “Basic Dictatorship” Problem. Ultimately, it stems from his political Romanticism and his attempt to deny that politics is, by definition, divisive precisely because we are free to … Continue reading →

Posted in Dorchester Review, Loyal Opposition | 5 Comments

Lament for A Dominion

Posted on 2016/01/07 by J.W.J. Bowden

I’m very grateful to C.P. Champion for having included my lament for the “Dominion of Canada” in the latest issue of The Dorchester Review. You can read it here: Bowden (2015) 1951: The Death of the Dominion You also read the primary … Continue reading →

Posted in Dominion Day, Dorchester Review, History of British North America | 5 Comments