Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-nwzlb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T01:03:10.475Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Just What is a Vote of Confidence? The Curious Case of May 10, 2005

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2007

Andrew Heard
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser University

Abstract

Abstract. Despite the confidence convention's central part in Canadian parliamentary government, little attention has been paid to what exactly constitutes a vote of confidence. This uncertainty was highlighted in May 2005, when the opposition parties in the House of Commons passed a motion which they claimed was a confidence motion but the government did not. This paper examines the episode, and the motion at the heart of the controversy, to determine whether it should have been considered a confidence vote. Historical precedents from 1926 to 2005 provide the context for the analysis and conclusions about what signifies a test of confidence.

Résumé. Malgré le rôle central de la convention de confiance dans le système parlementaire canadien, peu d'attention a été accordée à définir ce que constitue exactement un vote de confiance. Cette imprécision a été mise en évidence en mai 2005 lors du vote officiel sur une motion contre le gouvernement, lorsqu'il y a eu désaccord sur ce qui représentait une “ défaite ” du gouvernement dans la législature. Cet article examine les événements autour de cette motion, afin de déterminer si cette dernière a réellement constitué un vote de confiance. Quelques conclusions concernant ce que signifie un test de confiance sont tirées à partir d'une analyse des précédents historiques de 1926 à 2005.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2007 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Canada. House of Commons (HoC). 1926a. Journals. June 25.
Canada. HoC. 1926b. Journals. June 30, 50304.
Canada. HoC. 1926c. Debates. July 1, 531112.
Canada. HoC. 1926d. Journals. July 1, 50809.
Canada. HoC. 1963. Journals. February 5.
Canada. HoC. 1974. Journals. May 7.
Canada. HoC. 1979. Journals. December 13.
Canada. HoC. 1985. Report of the Special Committee on Reform of the HoC.
Canada. HoC. 2005p. Status of House Business. November 29. http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/status/status1-e.html (May 1, 2006).
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2005. “Harper unveils confidence motion.” November 23, at: http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/11/23/ottawa-politics051123.html?ref=rss (April 30, 2006).
Clokie, H. McDowall. 1944. Canadian Government and Politics. Toronto: Longmans, Green & Co.
CTV. 2005a. “Liberals will ignore Tory non-confidence motion,” May 6. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050506/Grit_motion_20050505/20050506/ (April 30, 2006).
CTV. 2005b. “House passes motion asking Liberals to resign,” May 10. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20050510/tories_motion_050510/20050510/ (April 30, 2006).
Dawson, R. MacGregor. 1948. The Government of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Docherty, David. 1997. Mr. Smith goes to Ottawa: Life in the House of Commons. Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press.
Forcese, Craig and Aaron Freeman. 2005. The Laws of Government: The Legal Foundations of Canadian Democracy. Toronto: Irwin Law.
Forsey, Eugene A. and Colin Eglington. 1985. “The Question of Confidence in Responsible Government,” prepared for the Special Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, Ottawa: HoC.
Heard, Andrew. 1991. Canadian Constitutional Conventions: The Marriage of Law and Politics, Toronto: Oxford University Press.
Hogg, Peter. 2005. Constitutional Law of Canada, Student Edition 2005, Toronto: Carswell.
Marleau, Robert and Camille Montpetit. 2000. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Montreal: Chenelière/McGraw-Hill.
Marshall, Geoffrey. 1984. Constitutional Conventions: The Rules and Forms of Political Accountability, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Marshall, Geoffrey. 1985. “What are constitutional conventions?Parliamentary Affairs. 38:Google Scholar
Monahan, Patrick. 2002. Constitutional Law. Second Edition, Toronto: Irwin Law.
Ward, Norman, 1987. Dawson's The Government of Canada, Sixth edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Wilding, Norman and Philip Laundy. 1972. An Encyclopaedia of Parliament. 4th ed. Rev. London: Cassell.
Liberals say they will ignore Tory non-confidence motion.” 2005. Daily Bulletin (Kimberly), May 6, 12.
Government tactics rile Tories, Bloc.” 2005a. Globe & Mail, May 6, A1.
Martin Liberals took illicit cash, probe told: The fallout: Tories force key vote in Commons.” 2005b. Globe & Mail, May10, A1.
Bloc trying to bring down government, Boudria says.” 2003. National Post, October 23, A13.
PM makes moves to keep power away from Martin.” 2003. Ottawa Citizen, May 21, A7.
Don't block throne speech Liberal warns.” 2004. Ottawa Citizen, October 2, A4.
PM declares Kyoto a ‘confidence’ vote.” 2002. Prince George Citizen, December 9, 7.
Chaos follows vote, but Chrétien still in charge.” 2002. Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon), November 6, A1.
The situation.” 1926. The Globe (Toronto), June 26, 1.
Battle's turmoil precipitates epic scene in Commons.” 1926. Toronto Daily Star, Jun 26, 1.
Grits falling into line on funding for gun registry; Backbench revolt stifled by threats of a non-confidence vote.” 2003. The Windsor Star, Mar 25, C1.
Grits falling into line on funding for gun registry; Backbench revolt stifled by threats of a non-confidence vote.” 1926. Manitoba Free Press, June 24, 7.