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Description
Many Canadians lament that prime ministerial power has become too concentrated since the 1970s. This book contradicts this view by demonstrating how prime ministerial power was centralized from the very beginning of Confederation and that the first three important prime ministers – Macdonald, Laurier, and Borden – channelled that centralizing impulse to adapt to the circumstances they faced.
Using a variety of innovative approaches, Patrice Dutil focuses on the managerial philosophies of each of the prime ministers as well as their rapport with senior public servants, resistance to genuine public sector reform, and use of orders-in-council to further their aims. He then compares their managerial habits during times of crisis to those during ordinary times.
This is the first book to examine the administrative habits of these three prime ministers. In it Dutil offers revealing insights into the evolution of prime ministerial power. He also shows how this centralizing grip of these early first ministers inevitably shaped the administrations they headed, as well as those that followed.
Contributor Notes
Patrice Dutil is a professor of politics and public administration at Ryerson University. He is the founder of the Literary Review of Canada and the president of the Champlain Society. He is the author and editor of several books on diverse aspects of Canadian politics and governance.
Editorial Reviews
Prime Ministerial Power in Canada is engaging reading. The book’s lively prose style, clarity of expression, logical and transparent structure, and meticulous attention to accuracy in detail adds to its appeal. It combines theoretical sophistication with profound historical understanding.
— The Ormsby Review
With this superbly-executed, comprehensive book, [St-Laurent] now gets the tribute he would not have asked for — but nonetheless deserves.
— Policy Magazine
Prime Ministerial Power in Canada is an incredibly welcome addition to the understanding of the Canadian political executive … Any serious scholar of the Canadian political executive must read (and re-read) this book.
— Policy Magazine
This is a remarkable book by a distinguished author.
[...]
Prime Ministerial Power in Canada is both unique and comprehensive, while adding greatly to our knowledge of the history of our country.
— Canada's History
Dutil casts light on the minutiae of governing that elucidates the challenges of managing and entrenching power … The strength and innovation of the book is in the detailed analysis of the use of royal commissions, orders-in-council and correspondence as instruments of power.
— Literary Review of Canada
