POLI 1119 Lecture Notes - Presidential System, Moral Authority, Tom Mulcair
Document Summary
Opposition who critiques: bear allegiance to crown, not government, leader of opposition becomes member of the privy council; he has access to the same information that the government has, opposition granted privileges not granted to other parties. Leader granted special speaking privileges, car allowance, special staff and offices, and official residence. He also gets access to foreign leaders. If harper were to meet with obama, mulcair would too. Privileges include formal place in ceremonial functions, official title, international standing, first to ask question during question period. Given a very clear podium for the public to view him/her; ensures that there is a political check on the pm; we hold someone else up very clearly as the alternative to current. Pm cannot hide anything because the opposition will be there to call them out. Party given extra funding not given to other parties. Ensures not the pmo or privy council office that isn"t the sole source of information.