Archive - In Defence of Westminster

Vice-regal discretion after MacKinnon

Governors General have less leeway than we like to imagine

Mar 19 •

Philippe Lagassé

Prorogation, prerogative, and judicial review

The Federal Court finds that exercises of the prorogation prerogative are justiciable.

Mar 7 •

Philippe Lagassé

January 2025

A Prime Minister who isn’t in Parliament?

Mr Carney could head the Canadian government without being an MP. How does that work?

Jan 19 •

Philippe Lagassé

Crisis Government and the Caretaker Convention

How do Trudeau’s resignation, prorogation, and a looming election affect the government’s authority to deal with Trump?

Jan 10 •

Philippe Lagassé

December 2024

A Question of Honour

Our system of government flounders when leaders aren't 'good chaps'.

Dec 24, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

October 2024

Supply Managing the Prerogative?

Bill C-282 appears to limit the foreign affairs prerogative, but it’s not so clear cut

Oct 7, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

July 2024

Power, the Attorney General, and ‘wicked advisors’

Rather than diminishing official capacities, the Supreme Court could have leveraged them

Jul 22, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

More Power to the courts

Parliamentary privilege, the separation of powers, and the distinct capacities of the Crown be damned

Jul 19, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

June 2024

Naming names without naming them

Party politics allows us to balance intelligence and accountability

Jun 6, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

February 2024

Resignations and the evolution of ministerial responsibility

Conventions evolve with the times. Ministerial responsibility is no different.

Feb 29, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

What are constitutional conventions?

Conventions aren’t laws or moral edicts. They’re political rules that govern relations of power and authority between institutions and offices.

Feb 15, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

Yes, the Westminster system has a separation of powers

Our system connects the executive and the legislature, but it doesn’t fuse them into a single entity.

Feb 3, 2024 •

Philippe Lagassé

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