This week's drama reminded me that Canada has two forms of government -- the formal and the real.
Look through the documents that make up our Constitution and what you find is a monarchy with vast powers granted to the Queen. You see not a word about political parties or the Prime Minister's Office. A visitor from outer space reading the Constitution would think we live under much the same system as England had in the 1760's.
In fact, of course, the Queen plays virtually no role at all in the government ( was she consulted before the Governor General decided last week? Doubtful). The PMO is a vastly powerful office and, arguably, we have a Prime Minister more powerful than the American President.
The difference between the paper and the reality seldom matters but sometimes (as last week) it does. When the Governor General made her decision last week she couldn't look at a section of the Constitution and say 'ah ha! That's the rule'.
Does this mean we should have a new constitution, perhaps a republic as some Conservatives are suggesting? To my mind no, but there is an issue of the indeterminate about our Constitution that is troubling.
1 comment:
Just wondering,
before Dion/Layton/Duceppe commited themselves to this coalition,
shouldn't they have had 100% support of their caucus'?
Some MPs from all 3 parties, were surprised by the move,and had reservations about the coalition.
Obviously this agreement was kept secret from some opp MPs, forcing MPs to decide a crucial vote, with no debate within caucus, first.
Next election,
make clear your intentions during the election so as not to enrage the electorate,
and then BEFORE the GG appoints the winner,
present you coalition.
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