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ARTICLE · 03 APRIL 2025

Caretaker Convention In Trump Era

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New caretaker convention guidelines published this week by the Privy Council Office have been revised to respond to the expected on-going uncertainties and economic threats facing Canada...

CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
Claudia Feldkamp
Claudia Feldkamp
Alex Steinhouse
Alex Steinhouse
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New caretaker convention guidelines published this week by the Privy Council Office have been revised to respond to the expected on-going uncertainties and economic threats facing Canada from Trump Administration 2.0 and allow nimbleness for a federal government that may need to respond forcefully to U.S trade actions before election day on April 28th.

On March 23rd, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney requested and was granted a dissolution of Parliament by the Governor General of Canada. Canadians will go to the polls for an April 28th, 2025, election.

With an election campaign now underway, federal government business is subject to the caretaker convention, in which the government must generally exercise "restraint" until a new government forms after the election.

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