responsible government
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Rules Matter
Why the rules of government formation are the way they are, and why they matter Continue reading
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Unconstitutional and Unconstitutional
Why delegating plenary taxing powers to the executive is wrong as a matter of constitutional principle and constitutional law Continue reading
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(Still) a Convention?
At his History News blog, Christopher Moore is arguing that “responsible government is not a ‘convention’.” In his view, the “basis of responsible government in Canada” is right there in the constitutional text ― specifically, in the provisions of the Constitution Act, 1867 that deal with money votes. Dale Smith replies in a post at Continue reading
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Continuing the Conventions Conversation
Yesterday, I suggested that we may be in the midst of a change in the conventions pertaining to the formation of government after an election that results in what the British call a “hung Parliament” ― one in which no party has a majority of seats. Traditional convention allows the incumbent government to remain in office Continue reading
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Constitutional Metamorphosis
The major party leaders have made some curious statements regarding the formation of a government in the aftermath of an election where no party claims the majority of seats. First Thomas Mulcair, then Stephen Harper, and then Justin Trudeau as well, have asserted that whichever party wins more seats than the others should be called on by the Continue reading
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All or Nothing
I want to come back, briefly, to the crazy idea I put forward last weekend, about the Governor General starting to appoint Senators without waiting for Prime Ministerial advice if it becomes clear that such advice is not and will not be forthcoming. Actually, maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea because, as Aniz Alani Continue reading
Double Aspect 