Behind Closed Doors: The Law and Politics of Cabinet Secrecy - Paperback

by Yan Campagnolo (Author), The Honourable Louis Lebel C. C. (Foreword by)

A defense of cabinet secrecy in democratic societies.

In an era where government transparency and accountability are considered fundamental values, does Cabinet secrecy still have a place? The legal and political rules that protect the confidentiality of collective decision-making at the highest level of the state executive have come under increasing scrutiny. In Behind Closed Doors, Yan Campagnolo argues that cabinet secrecy is essential to responsible government, even while its statutory safeguards may be unconstitutional. Comparing practices in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand, this comprehensive study proposes a new, middle way between total transparency and confidentiality in the cabinet.

Author Biography

Yan Campagnolo is associate professor of law at the University of Ottawa and a member of the Ontario Bar. He has worked as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada and as counsel for the Privy Council Office.