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The Rise of Court Government in Canada*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Donald J. Savoie
Donald J. Savoie
Affiliation:
Université de Moncton
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Abstract

The article challenges long-established conventions about how Canada's federal government works. It argues that Cabinet has joined Parliament as an institution being bypassed. In the late 1990s, political power is in the hands of the prime minister and a small group of carefully selected courtiers rather than with the prime minister acting in concert with his elected cabinet colleagues. The article reviews the forces that have led to the rise of court government and the policy instruments and administrative tools that enable it to function. National unity concerns, the role of the media and lobbyists, as well as reforms at the centre of government and globalization, have all served to reshape how policy and decisions are made in the government of Canada. The changes hold important implications, not just for cabinet government, but also for the public service and Canadians themselves.

Résumé

L'article remet en question des ideées acceptées de longue date sur le fonctionnement du gouvemement fédéral canadien. II soutient que, désormais, le pouvoir échappe au cabinet autant qu'au parlement. À la fin des années quatre-vingt-dix, le pouvoir politique est concentré entre les mains du Premier Ministre et d'un petit groupe de courtisans soigneusement choisis, au lieu d'appartenir à un Premier Ministre qui agirait de concert avec ses collègues é1us du cabinet. L'article examine les forces qui sont à l'origine de ce gouvemement monarchique et les outils politiques et administratifs qui en assurent le fonctionnement. Les problèmes d'unité nationale, les médias et les lobbys, aussi que les réformes du gouvemement lui-même et la globalisation, ont également contribué à changer la facon dont les politiques et les décisions sont adoptées au sein du gouvemement canadien. Ces changements ont eu d'importantes répercussions non seulement sur le cabinet, mais sur la fonction publique et sur l'ensemble des Canadiens.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , December 1999 , pp. 635 - 664
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association 1999

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