Whether it’s the first-past-the-post electoral system or partisan government appointees to the Senate, Canadians want better representation and accountability from the federal government. Before reforms can be enacted, however, it is important to explore and clarify the relationships among Canada’s three parliamentary institutions: Crown, Senate, and Commons.
In The Constitution in a Hall of Mirrors, David E. Smith presents a learned but accessible analysis of the interconnectedness of Canada’s parliamentary institutions. Smith argues that Parliament is a unity comprised of three parts and any reforms made to one branch will, whether intended or not, affect the other branches. Through a timely, nuanced, and comprehensive examination of parliamentary debates, committee reports, legal scholarship, and comparative analysis of developments in the United Kingdom, Smith uncovers the substantial degree of ambiguity that exists among Canadians and their calls for structural and operational reforms. By illuminating the symbiotic relationship between the Crown, Senate, and Commons, The Constitution in a Hall of Mirrors brings government reform closer to reality.
Table of Contents:
Preface
Chapter 1 - Reflections
Chapter 2 - Refraction: The Crown
Chapter 3 - Redefinition: The Senate of Canada
Chapter 4 - Readjustment: The House of Commons
Chapter 5 - Reconsideration
Chapter 6 - Recapitulation
About the Author :
David E. Smith is adjunct faculty in the Department of Politics and Public Administration and a member of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University.
Review :
‘A reader will be struck by the depth of Smith’s comprehension of the subject matter. He effortlessly weaves between topics, displaying a rare expertise that is honed after decades of study.’
- Alex Marland (The Hill Times January 8, 2018) ‘The Constitution in a Hall of Mirrors is an interesting and thought provoking read. I recommend it for academic or parliamentary library collections. It would complement, in particular, the reading lists of upper-year undergraduate or graduate students of political science.’
- Caitilin O’Hare (Canadian Law Library Review vol 43:01:2018) "David Smith’s The Constitution in a Hall of Mirrors: Canada at 150 is a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of Canada’s political system in the context of the constitution, as the nation celebrated its sesquicentennial…The book is insightful, well thought out, and challenges many beliefs commonly held by the Canadian public, resulting in an overall great book."
- Thomas Laval Fransoo (Saskatchewan Law Review)
