Rediscovering Constitutional Law: Succession Upon the Death of the Prime Minister

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of succession under the Canadian Constitution when the Prime Minister dies in office. No Canadian Prime Minister has died in office since the 19th century. This article addresses the complex interplay of various constitutional conventions and the roles of party leaders and the Governor General and ultimately concludes that the status quo is wanting. The author proposes a political solution to this constitutional problem.

Keywords: Canada, Canadian Constitutional Law, Prime Minister, Succession, Governor General, death in office, constituitonal conventions, reserve powers