Executive government organization in Saskatchewan and the Government Organization Act 1986-87-88

Abstract

In the 1986-87-88 session of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly, the government of Grant Devine introduced Bill 5 an Act respecting the Organization of the Executive Government of Saskatchewan. The Devine government claimed that it was an explicit definition of the authority of executive government organization while the opposition charged that it was a 'power grab.' The main purpose of this thesis is to investigate the effect the Act has had on the relationship between the executive and the Legislative Assembly and on parliamentary democracy in Saskatchewan. After defining the authority of government organization and an analysis of the content, debate, applications, and consequences of the Act, it is argued that although Bill 5 increased the power of the executive to effect government organization, parliamentary democracy in Saskatchewan was not eroded.