Open AccessAdvice to the Minister of Democratic Reform
Author(s) -
Bruce M. Hicks
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
constitutional forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-4165
pISSN - 0847-3889
DOI - 10.21991/c9x95b
Subject(s) - house of commons , prime minister , democracy , government (linguistics) , general election , political science , public administration , governor , power (physics) , accountability , legislation , commons , law , politics , parliament , physics , linguistics , philosophy , quantum mechanics , thermodynamics
The Conservative Party of Canada ran in 2006 on an agenda of democratic reform that was to include election dates for the Commons fixed at four years and Senate elections with fixed eight-year terms. After assuming power, its legislation for quadrennial fixed election dates was abrogated within two years of its passage and again two years later. Its Senate reform bills have never gotten beyond second reading and, in most cases, only made it to first. And the prime minister has twice convinced the Governor General to use her reserve powers to protect the government from parliamentary accountability. This paper outlines possible ways to rehabilitate the government’s reform agenda.