Template talk:Canadian Cabinet

This template does not require a rating on Wikipedia's content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects:

Canada This template is within the scope of WikiProject Canada, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Canada on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CanadaWikipedia:WikiProject CanadaTemplate:WikiProject CanadaCanada-related articles Politics This template is within the scope of WikiProject Politics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of politics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PoliticsWikipedia:WikiProject PoliticsTemplate:WikiProject Politicspolitics articles

I think that the current template that lists the various members of the Cabinet is incorrect on a couple of points. First, it refers to the Cabinet of Canada as "the Cabinet of the Prime Minister of Canada", and second, Harper himself is not listed. While the Cabinet is usually refered by the name of the first minister, the idea of primus inter pares is still in tact (in theory), so it is not "his" Cabinet; Harper is a member of, and also chairman of, a body of ministers called by the Governor General to advise the Crown.

Unlike, for example, President Bush, or any other president, whose Cabinet is formally subordinate to him (the whole Canadian template appears to have been inspired by the American one, with "Prime Minister of Canada" plugged in in place of "President of the United States", without taking in to account differences in constitutional theory) and separate from his Office, Harper is the chairman of the Cabinet, and is thus also a member of that body. So he should be listed on the template as a member of the Cabinet (which I would suggest be labeled "Current Members of the Cabinet of Canada." CaptainCanada 16:53, 1 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]