Tag Archives: Robert Macgregor Dawson

Toronto Newspaper Attacks the Undemocratic Centralization of Power in the Prime Minister and the Corrupt, Unelected Senate


I’d like to thank James Anderson and National News Watch for having published my column on putting the current parliamentary scandals into historical perspective. “The Power of the Prime Minister” In “The Power of the Prime Minister”, the editorial board … Continue reading

Posted in Articles and Books, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers, Reform, Reviews, Senate Reform | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

David Onley Defends Responsible Government


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

David Johnston on the Constitutional Relationship Between the Governor General and the Prime Minister


Governor General Johnston’s Remarks On 11 December 2012, Sandie Rinaldo interviewed Governor General David Johnston, who provided some good insights on the proper constitutional relationship between the Governor and Prime Minister under our system of Responsible Government.[1] Governor General David … Continue reading

Posted in Consultations, Crown (Powers and Office), Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peter Russell on the Prorogation-Coalition Controversy of 2008


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 True Nature of Crown Prerogative and Responsible Government


When PhDs Don’t Understand Westminster Parliamentarism The debates in Westminster parliamentarism on the role of Crown-in-Parliament vs. the Crown-in-Council mostly result from legitimate differences of interpretation of Crown prerogative, such as between Dawson’s and Forsey’s respective schools of thought. Unfortunately, … Continue reading

Posted in Cabinet's Powers, Crown (Powers and Office), Prime Minister's Powers, Reaffirmation of, Responsible Government | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments