PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT OCTOBER 24 2019 PARLIAMENT THE FOUNDATIONS

PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT OCTOBER 24, 2019

PARLIAMENT: THE FOUNDATIONS PM and cabinet need confidence of House in order to govern Party discipline reverses the logic of responsible government, resulting in concentration of power in executive branch In majority government scenario, maintaining confidence is easier

MINORITY GOVERNMENT • British Columbia, New Brunswick, PEI, and Canada have all produced “hung parliaments” • How should public service advise a minority government? • These examples demonstrate the range of approaches for maintaining stability in a minority context

MINORITY GOVERNMENT: APPROACHES • BC: Agreement of confidence and supply between NDP gov’t and Greens • NB: People’s Alliance to support PC government for 18 months-2 years • PEI: strong minority for PCs with support from both Greens and Liberals • Canada: two potential partners for Liberal minority government • No one formed a coalition… • Approach is dictated by political circumstances

CANADA’S NEW PARLIAMENT • Liberals could work with either NDP or BQ • Party system exacerbates regional divide; what will happen to national unity? • Can Senators play role in intrastate federalism? • What will policy process look like, with minority parliament and “independent” Senate? What about committees?