John Robson Explains Why Governments Continue to Grow in Size

July 9, 2024 TruthUSA

Commentary

My hopes were momentarily lifted when I saw a photo of Britain’s compact new cabinet, prompting a comparison to the size of ours. I was about to draw a Chestertonian paradox between their larger Parliament and our cabinet. However, upon closer inspection, I discovered that the British cabinet is actually quite large, further diminishing self-government by giving more power to the executive over the legislature.

Their House of Commons boasts 650 seats, making it challenging to control backbenchers. Yet, they have managed to find a way around this limitation. The UK is restricted by law to only 21 “Secretaries of State,” but can also have up to 50 paid “Ministers of State” and a perplexing 83 “Parliamentary Secretaries other than Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury.” With these titles come significant financial rewards.

For ordinary Parliamentary Secretaries, there is an additional £23,697 bonus (C$41,398), on top of their parliamentary salaries of £91,346 plus expenses. A Minister of State receives £33,002. There are also specific roles like the “Minister in charge of a public department of Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom who is not a member of the cabinet, and who is not eligible for a salary under any other provision of this Act,” and up to seven “Assistant Whip, House of Commons” receiving £19,239. However, this issue is not about political affiliations or specific individuals.

In Prince Edward Island, the least populous province in Canada, the Progressive Conservatives seem to be the largest party in the 27-member Assembly, with 21 members. But in reality, the majority lies within the cabinet, consisting of 12 members, while the remaining nine Tories, three Liberals, and three Greens constitute the rest. In Ontario, the most populous province, 35 out of 79 Tory MPPs are ministers, and an additional 34 are paid “parliamentary assistants.”

The real concern lies in the vast state machinery of Canada, with a workforce of 4.2 million citizens, where only a select few thousand legislators are chosen to represent us at federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal levels. These legislators are crucial in bridging the gap between the citizens and the power structure of the government.

Governments inherently rely on the use of force to execute key functions. The Anglophone tradition is the only one that has successfully navigated the delicate balance of a strong state that protects its citizens without oppressing them. This model entails an elected legislature that acts as a check on the executive, ensuring that our rights are upheld.

We do not seek visionary leaders to guide us on a grand journey; rather, we desire autonomy to build our lives and communities without undue interference or exploitation.

It is crucial to understand the distinct roles and functions within the Canadian government, rather than referring to it as the “Trudeau government,” “Starmer government,” or “Ford government.” Each branch—executive, legislative, and judicial—operates independently to ensure a system of checks and balances, as outlined in our Constitution. The prime minister leads the executive branch, but this is only a part of the broader governance structure that upholds federalism.

While there are alternative governance models, combining executive and legislative powers creates a “Convention government,” notorious for causing chaos at the state level post-American Revolution and during the Reign of Terror in France. This convergence seems to be the direction we are unwittingly moving towards.

In the past, monarchs attempted to exert absolute control through force, leading to disastrous outcomes like those under Charles I and James II. The 18th-century Hanoverians tried a subtler approach by co-opting Parliament, nearly reducing it to a ceremonial entity subordinate to the Crown. However, this strategy eventually failed, paving the way for a parliamentary democracy that prioritized citizen freedoms and minimal government interference, propelling Britain to greatness.

As cabinet sizes and executive influence continue to expand, the legislative oversight of the executive diminishes, culminating in an unwieldy and ineffective state apparatus. This trend underscores why the state has become bloated and unmanageable.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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