Parliamentary scrutiny of defence matters is weak and ineffectual in Canada. Making Parliament a significant player in Canadian civil-military relations would require significant structural changes to the legislature, which is unlikely to occur. Yet there are incremental changes in three areas —military deployments, committee powers, and defence procurement tracking— that could improve Parliament’s lackluster performance in holding governments to account for military affairs. Drawing on a wider study of legislative oversight of defence in fifteen countries, this talk will examine how to realistically improve parliamentary scrutiny of defence in Canada without undertaking major institutional reforms.

About the Speaker

Philippe Lagassé is Associate Professor and Barton Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University. He is completing a comparative study legislative oversight of defence affairs in fifteen countries and is currently studying the scope of executive power in Westminster states.  

To attend this event, please R.S.V.P via email to maxbell.media@mcgill.ca.