Reforming Parliamentary Democracy, F. Leslie Seidle and David C.
Docherty, eds., Montreal & Kingston: McGill-Queen's University
Press, 2003, pp. vii, 246
This book derives from a conference held by the Canadian Study of
Parliament Group at which distinguished persons discussed the efforts for
reform in Westminster style parliamentary democracies. Topics covered
include: second chambers (the British House of Lords, South Africa);
proportional representation (New Zealand); the role of the Crown
(Australia); political rights and representation of aboriginal peoples
(New Zealand and Canada); and federalism and devolution (Britain and
Canada). An introduction and conclusion by the editors, and a useful
chapter by Jennifer Smith on reform of the Canadian Parliament complete
the book.