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Comment by dleslie | Hacker News Reader

Worth noting is the extent of power held by the Canadian PM:

> As such, the prime minister, supported by the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO), controls the appointments of many key figures in Canada's system of governance, including the governor general, the Cabinet, justices of the Supreme Court, senators, heads of crown corporations, ambassadors to foreign countries, the provincial lieutenant governors, and approximately 3,100 other positions.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Canada

Chilling, isn't it? Perhaps this change in Turkey is an opportunity to engage in political change here in the Americas.

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Worth also noting, is the extent of power granted to those who don't agree with the Prime Minister.

> the commons may revoke its confidence in an incumbent prime minister and Cabinet or caucus revolts can quickly bring down a serving premier and even mere threats of such action can persuade and/or compel a prime minister to resign his post, as happened with Jean Chrétien.

> The Reform Act of 2014 codifies the process by which a caucus may trigger a party leadership review and, if necessary, choose an interim leader.

> Either the sovereign or his or her viceroy may oppose the prime minister's will in extreme, crisis situations.

Also what happens if the ruling party does not have a majority and they lose the coalition that gives them enough seats to rule?

The party whip all but ensures that a majority government does not fear reprisal from the house.

Asking the sovereign to intervene is an extreme last-resort, having last happened around forty years ago in Australia.

Canada's democracy functions excellently when in a minority; in that situation the house has the balance of power, and not the PMO.

That'd be super chilling if the various legislative bodies didn't act as a check on that through confirmation requirements and limits on executive authority.

You know, like Turkey used to have. Before yesterday.

The party whip makes parliamentary confirmations a formality.

Only if the current party has a majority government, which isn't always the case.

It's mostly the case.

Why is that chilling?

Because one person "controls the appointments of many key figures in Canada's system of governance".

(There are hopefully other checks and balances that quote doesn't mention.)

There are elections, but the Government is able to change how Canadians vote and the rules regarding voting and campaigning; and there is the Sovereign, but she'd only intervene in three most extreme situations.

Mind explaining how the Government is able to change how Canadians vote?

The Elections Act can be, and has been, amended by parliament. In a majority government with a strong whip, this means the PMO can effectively amend it as they please.

The act defines how we vote, the constitution only requires that the vote method be reasonably democratic.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_3_of_the_Canadian_Ch...

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