@Satchie wrote: As you point out, it is the cabinet that has the real power. They approved the trucker mandate by a vote, and it got passed directly into law, rather than going forward as legislation.
The Prime Minister doesn't have a legal position like the US president. The Liberals could, in theory, replace him, the way the Conservative leader was just replaced. He's one vote at cabinet. But, of course, if cabinet loses confidence in him, and start to disagree, the whole thing falls apart, as Erin O'Toole just discovered.
Also, border issues are handled by multiple federal agencies, as was the case in the US before 9/11. There's no department like Homeland Security here. So the details were worked out by agreement of 4 federal ministers: Health, Public Safety, Transport and Immigration (see the press release I linked above) . They would have presented the proposal to cabinet for approval.
[edited to add] Regarding the role of Tam, she only has power to offer advice. But I think Trudeau set the tone in the first days of pandemic restrictions, when he stated that all federal actions would be based on the best science available. That has to come from Tam, since none of the politicians are experts in infectious diseases.
JMO
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Yes, it rather makes me feel a bit of national pride. There are lots of checks and balances in the system to ensure a democratic process. I'm thankful that our best medical and public health practices are not driven by a group of rogue truckers, but that we have an excellent ministry in place to direct our elected leaders.