Hill Life & People
Centralized prime ministerial power ‘part and parcel’ of our history, says author Patrice Dutil
By Laura Ryckewaert Dec. 18, 2017
‘There is no doubt that the Office of the Prime Minister was a centralizing force from the very beginning of Confederation,’ says author and Ryerson University Professor Patrice Dutil.
Ryerson University Professor Patrice Dutil read more than 20,000 orders in council and another 2,000 correspondence letters in researching his new book, Prime Ministerial Power in Canada. Photograph courtesy of Patrice Dutil
From Pierre Trudeau to Stephen Harper, modern Canadian prime ministers are often cast as having ushered in a unique centralization of executive control, but as Ryerson University professor and author Patrice Dutil explores in his new book, it’s been a crucial feature of governance from the start. “It’s not a new thing, it’s an old thing that has managed to reinvent itself with every generation. So people should not be complaining as though centralization of the Office of
This is an exclusive subscriber-only story by The Hill Times.
If you’d like to read the full article:
Subscribe Today
Already a Hill Times subscriber? Sign in here:
Reuse and Permissions:
Unauthorized distribution, transmission, reuse or republication of any and all content is strictly prohibited. To discuss re-use of this material, please contact:
Chris Rivoire, Director of Reader Sales and Services
613-288-1146 | circulation@hilltimes.com
More in News
Former Hill staffer Wernick wants MPs to sign pledge to bring about ‘a long-term culture change’ on the Hill
MPs offer mixed reaction to Paul Wernick’s ideas and are expressing concerns that following some elements of the pledge would violate the privacy of their staff. Experts, critics urge feds to ‘ratchet up’ climate change efforts, seize the political leadership, after ‘landmark’ UN report
‘Staying the course when it’s the wrong course is not leadership,’ said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May of the Liberal government’s response to a recent UN report on the impacts of climate change. Great expectations, and racism, but immense pride and learning: Asian-Canadian MPs share their experiences
For some Asian-Canadian MPs, being elected to Ottawa comes with expectations. But they say the job brings them much pride and an opportunity to learn about their community. Former Brampton Conservative MP Seeback not ruling out nomination run in Dufferin-Caledon, blasting two other official candidates for being ‘disrespectful’ for challenging Conservative MP Tilson
Former Brampton Conservative MP Kyle Seeback says he will make a decision about running in Dufferin-Caledon after the Oct. 22 municipal election.USMCA’s ‘China clause’ may force Canada to consider sectoral trade, but experts question if China would have any interest
'China has not shown a lot of enthusiasm for sectoral deals,' says Charles Burton, a former aide in Canada's embassy in Beijing. Despite USMCA deal, the ‘sword’ of national security tariff threats still hangs over Canada’s head, say trade observers
‘When you break norms, those norms are very difficult to re-establish,’ says one former policy adviser to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.Three-quarters of Centre Block-based MPs have moved out
Twenty-seven MPs and cabinet ministers had moved into new offices in the Wellington, Justice, and Confederation buildings by Oct. 1, according to House staff.Liberals turn sights on social media giants in bid to boost elections bill
The government has proposed more than 60 changes to Bill C-76, which NDP critic Nathan Cullen says points to a ‘flawed’ bill. There are a whopping 340 suggested changes altogether, to be debated next week.Bowing to pressure, feds urge Senate to change access to information bill
The government is responding to critics who want to make the information commissioner’s order-making powers immediate, and scrap a requirement that requesters detail the time period, subject, and type of document.Trending Stories
