Overview

For decades Canadians have been led to believe that majority governments are the ideal outcome of our federal elections, allowing the winning party to fully implement its vision and act decisively. But in this timely exploration of Canada’s history and its current political landscape, Peter Russell argues that Canadians are better served by minority governments than by false majorities—the too-common scenario in which a party wins a commanding majority of seats with fewer than half the votes cast.

Though minority government may not quite deserve a full three cheers, our multi-party reality and the evolution of Canadian democracy require that we come to terms with it, and perhaps even embrace it.

This is the first book-length study of minority government in Canada.

"(Russell) has the audacity to suggest that voters and the parliaments they elect should actually count in the way we govern — a huge and profound idea." – Senator Hugh Segal

“Three cheers for Peter Russell's timely and thought-provoking book!” – Graham White, University of Toronto

“An important book…and highly accessible.” – Donald J. Savoie, l'Université de Moncton

Top ∧Content Summary

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: The Alternatives
• Chapter 3: Minority Governments by the Dozen
• Chapter 4: Minority Governments Aplenty—Elsewhere
• Chapter 5: Prime Ministerial Versus Parliamentary Government
• Chapter 6: Stabilizing Minority Government
• Chapter 7: Sustaining Parliamentary Democracy

Top ∧About the Author

Peter H. Russell is Professor of Political Science (Emeritus) at the University of Toronto.