Question from an American

[rurallib]

I think I understand your system fairly well except for one thing. Can Harper now enter Canada into agreements with foreign countries without parliamentry concurrence. For example can he, acting as the Prime Minister sign Canada onto bush's stupid missle defense system?
Another question pops to mind - what kinds of things can be done without approval of commons? Commit troops to Iraq, maybe?
Thanks for any help. I may be joining you someday. At least your clown is on a very short leash.
BTW by American I mean USA. Damn,so used to saying it that I forget some folks are offended by that.

[Minstrel Boy]

1. There are such things as "Orders-in-Council"

which can be enacted by cabinet without parliamentary approval. Usually used for minor things, but they do carry the possibility of abuse.

It's a legacy of the British parliamentary system. From the wiki definition:

Traditionally, Orders-in-Council are used as a way for the Prime Minister to make political appointments, but they can also be used to issue simple laws as a sort of decree. Often in times of emergency a government may issue legislation directly through Orders-in-Council, forgoing the usual parliamentary procedure in accordance with the Defence of the Realm Act (now repealed) and assorted other emergency powers legislation. However, most Orders of this sort are usually eventually formalized according to the traditional lawmaking process, if they are not revoked at the end of the emergency

[CanuckAmok]

3. OiC for anything other than minor issues is a last-option scenario.

In order to sell an OiC without facing a non-confidence motion, it has to be an issue which is clearly supported by most Canadians (and their MPs). One example which springs to mind is the October Crisis. IIRC, Trudeau's declaration of an emergency was an OiC (but I may be wrong... it's been many years since my eleventh grade history class).

[Manix]

2. If he does something really radical he always faces the

prospect of a non-confidence motion being thrown in his face.
Using the example of Iraq, you can bet his government would fall if
he pulled this stunt, and in an election based on this issue he would
lose big time. I doubt if he is that stupid, but you never know with right wingers.