Added link to article without paywall.
Please read past the title.
By Andrew Coyne, published in The Globe and Mail December 14, 2024.
It was a good primer on this topic. I think the point that the LPC vacancy in these turbulent times - Dump as POTUS - reveals weaknesses in our political system with respect the PM’s power, and should perhaps be cause for reflection, is a valid one.
Less interestingly, it’s been ages since I read an article in The Globe and Mail. I basically had to hold my nose through the paragraphs about Trudeau - 2 to start - that were obnoxiously uncivil. Mr. Coyne wasn’t that complimentary of the CPC, but he certainly wasn’t as vitriolic. It was so icky to read in parts, which perplexes me
The prime minister has been acquiring more power for decades. Canada doesn’t function better now than it did, it just functions differently.
In doing so, the rest of Parliament and the government is weakened. It becomes harder to limit what the prime minister can do.
All that power means our Prime Ministers are also incredibly accountable to the people every election.
Loom how fast the polling has changed once that powerful leader left and someone else looks to be taking his place.
Sure, there are flaws but I’d much rather have governments able to pass significant legislation upon which they can be judged rather than say, American style insanity where almost everything is passed through budget reconciliation and squabbling in Congress means every bill is stuffed with handouts across various constituencies.
Canadian governments have been able to pass significant legislation since repatriation. We’re fine.
Centralizing power with the PMO just means the prime minister can make more partisan changes by fiat. We usually go to the polls every four years, so that’s a long time to wait for accountability.
And of course, there’s the problem that the PMO is responsible for so many appointments that they don’t appoint judges in a timely manner:
“It is imperative for the Prime Minister’s Office to give this issue the importance it deserves and for appointments to be made in a timely manner …The government’s inertia regarding vacancies and the absence of satisfactory explanations for these delays are disconcerting.”
…
“In some cases it may be that all relevant vacancies must be filled, as where serious crimes are not prosecuted in a timely way such that victims, the public and accused are denied justice,” Brown said.
