Comparative ministerial turnover in Canada : 1867-2000

Abstract

This dissertation presents a model of ministerial turnover in the Canadian federal cabinet for the period 1867 until 2000. The dissertation begins with a review of the existing literature of ministerial and legislator turnover in Canada and establishes that the study of ministerial turnover is typically relegated to a peripheral discussion in the wider study of prime ministerial power in Canada. This is largely due to the absence of an accurate and complete account of when and why ministers exit the cabinet. In order to overcome this hurdle a unique dataset that comprises the complete career paths of each and every minister that served in cabinet from the formation of the Canadian state in 1867 until 2000 was assembled. A review of the existing literature combined with the information provided in the dataset reveals that ministers typically leave the cabinet for one of three broad reasons: to accept an offer of patronage, to retire from federal politics or as a result of a cabinet reshuffle. Exits because of electoral turnover are not examined.