PO263 Savoie Notes

Q: Who is Donald Savoie, and why does he seem to be important to the study of politics
and government in Canada?
A: Donald Savoie is a well-known professor at the Université de Moncton. He holds a
Canada Research Chair in Public Administration, making him a very important and
highly-educated man, which is also evident due to his immense influence on Canadian
policies.

Q: According to Savoie, how has power shifted over time within the Canadian
parliamentary system – from where/whom and to where/whom – and why does he
think that this is a problem?
A: Savoie believes that power has definitely shifted over time within the Canadian
Parliamentary system.

Q: For Savoie, what is “Court Government” and how is it related to Parliamentary

Government, Cabinet Government (collective responsibility) and Responsible
Government?
A: For Savoie, Court Government essentially revolves around the power that the Prime
Minister has and the group of selected courtiers, Cabinet Ministers, selected lobbyists,
pollsters and other important people that work underneath him or her. These important
individuals have the power to create change and can change things at the snap of their
fingers. This relates to Parliamentary Government, Cabinet Government and
Responsible Government in the sense that

Q: For Savoie, what are the roles of cabinet and cabinet ministers under Court
Government?
A:

Q: What are “the central forces,” changes to “the machinery of government,” and actors
that Savoie thinks have bolstered or even augmented Court Government, and how have
they done so? [there are about a half dozen of them that he reviews]
A: The central forces of Court Government in Canada are…
- The Mass Media: File that receives media attention becomes political, media have
become political actors as they convey an opinion or bias
- Center of Government:
- Globalization: Working with other governments (internationally) to gain their
own benefit. Trudeau, unlike some other leaders, can work with other
governments to negotiate and make deals for the benefit of Canada.
The changes to machinery of government include…
Q: In the Canadian system, what are the powers associated with the position of prime
minister that Savoie identifies, and what are the sources of such power?
A:

Q: What forces does Savoie suggest can still “inhibit prime ministerial power” and how
do they do so?
A:

- If you could speak with Savoie right now, what question(s) about his text would
you want to ask him?

- Building from Savoie, what do you see as some advantages and disadvantages of
Court Government for the quality of politics within the Canadian Regime?

- In your view, is Court Government a problem or not – and why or why not?

- If Savoie is correct, then what might be done to limit Court Government?

- What terms/ideas did you not understand in Savoie’s text?