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Political Science Legislative Branch

Mr. Smith Goes to Ottawa

Life in the House of Commons

by (author) David C. Docherty

Publisher
UBC Press
Initial publish date
Nov 2011
Category
Legislative Branch, General
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780774841856
    Publish Date
    Nov 2011
    List Price
    $99.00
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780774806381
    Publish Date
    Sep 1997
    List Price
    $34.95
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9780774806398
    Publish Date
    Sep 1997
    List Price
    $26.95

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Description

In Mr Smith Goes to Ottawa, the author compares the 34th (1988-93) and the 35th (1993-97) Parliaments. The former, the second consecutive Conservative-led majority government, could not appear more different from the Liberal one which followed. Over two-thirds of its members were rookies. More significantly, over one-third represented two new political parties - the Bloc Quebecois and the Reform party. Yet, for all this change, Docherty shows that the new agendas of the 35th Parliament have not translated into changes in the legislative behaviour or socialization of new members. Unlike Jimmy Stewart in Washington, the majority of the men and women who go to Ottawa end up accepting a limited policy role.

About the author

Department of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University

David C. Docherty's profile page

Editorial Reviews

David Docherty has produced a book that contributes to our understanding of parliamentary careers. It is a well-written, original and thoughtfully conceived interpretation.

CJPS

The book is a unique and important contribution to the literature on po,itical parties and legislatures, especially in the Canadian context. Canada might be served well if MPs were to read it as thoroughly as the scholarly community should.

Choice, Vol. 35, No. 9

David Docherty’s Mr. Smith Goes to Ottawa examines, more comprehensively than any previous published work, the journey made by those elected to the House of Commons.

Literary Review of Canada, Volume 7, No. 1, January/February 1998