Political Institutions in Canada in a New Era
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23744136 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lori Turnbull (Dalhousie University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2017 |
| Pages | 173-188 |
| Publication date | 2017-11-06 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | CHAPTER |
| Venue | Oxford Handbook of the Canadian Constitution (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/law/9780190664817.003.0008 |
| OpenAlex | W2963845230 |
| ISBN | 9780190664817 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 2 |
This chapter examines the meaning and significance of the parliamentary reform package introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government in 2015. The proposed measures address themes that have been part of democratic reform agendas for many years, and most of them can be fairly described as low-hanging fruit. The one that stands out from the rest is the Trudeau government’s approach to appointments. Historically, Prime Ministers have made appointments to the Senate, the Supreme Court, and other positions of profile and authority with little to no restrictions on their discretion. The Trudeau government’s creation of independent advisory boards to preside over appointments throughout federal government institutions, and the identification of specified criteria to guide these appointments, represents a major departure from historic practice and a potentially significant shift away from the concentration of power in the hands of the political Executive.
Democracy · Discretion · Executive branch · Government (linguistics) · Meaning (existential) · Political science · Politics · Power (physics) · Prime minister · Separation of powers · Supreme court · Canadian Policy and Governance · Law · Political Systems and Governance · Public Administration
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |