Professional Appointments and Experience:

Fellow - Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, 2020 to present.

Advisory Board Member - Institute of Parliamentary and Political Law, 2008 to present.

Academic Advisor - Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, 2017 to 2020.

Academic Advisor - BC Legislative Internship Program, 2005 to 2020.

President - British Columbia Political Studies Association - from May 2014 to 2016

Honourary Adjunct Professor - Political Science Department, Dalhousie University from January 1996 to 2015.

Member of Nova Scotia Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee, 1991-92. This committee interviews candidates and provides the Nova Scotian Cabinet with a ranked short-list for each vacancy on the Nova Scotia Family and Provincial Courts. I was appointed to this committee after serving on a previous one that developed guidelines for this new merit-based appointment process.

Assistant Professor (Research) - Political Science Department, Dalhousie University, from July 1989 to June 1992. This position was held in conjunction with a SSHRC Canada Research Fellowship.. 

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship - held at: Oxford University, 1987-88 (admitted as a Recognized Student); Political Science Department, University of Toronto, 1988-89. 

Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor) - Politics Department, Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa - January 1982 to June 1982 - This was a sabbatical leave position teaching undergraduate courses in comparative politics. 

Parliamentary Intern in the Canadian House of Commons - September 1979 to June 1980 
 

• British Columbia Political Studies Association
• Canadian Political Science Association
  
• UK Constitutional Law Association

Publications and Research:

Book:

Canadian Constitutional Conventions: The Marriage of Law and Politics, 2nd.ed., Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2014.

Canadian Constitutional Conventions: The Marriage of Law and Politics, Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1991. 

Articles and Chapters:

“Canada's Entrenched Monarchy: The 'Offices' of the Queen and Her Representatives,” in D. Michael Jackson and Christopher McCreery (eds.), A Resilient Crown: Canada's Monarchy at the Platinum Jubilee, Toronto: Dundurn, 2022, 43-64

“The Senate: A Late Blooming Chameleon,” in J. Bickerton & A-G. Gagnon (eds.), Canadian Politics, 7th ed., Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2020, 81-103.

“The Effect of Trudeau’s New Senate Selection Process in Perspective: The Senate’s Review of Commons Bills, 1997-2019,” (2020) 13 Canadian Political Science Review, 108-145. https://ojs.unbc.ca/index.php/cpsr/article/view/1518/1356

“The Provincial Crown and the Lieutenant Governors,” in D. Michael Jackson (ed.), Royal Progress: Canada's Monarchy in the Age of Disruption, Toronto: Dundurn, 2020, 43-77.

“The Crown in Canada: Is There a Canadian Monarchy?” in D. Michael Jackson (ed.), The Canadian Kingdom, Toronto: Dundurn, 2018, 113-132.

“British Columbia's 2017 Extraordinary Contribution to Constitutional Conventions,” (2017) 11 Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law, 563-570.

“Constitutional Conventions and Written Constitutions: The Rule of Law Implications in Canada,” (2015) 38 Dublin University Law Journal, No.2, 331-361.

“Chief Electoral Officers and Election Commissioners: A Survey of Powers and Arrangements for the Administration and Enforcement of Electoral Law,” in Richard Blasko and Gregory Tardi (eds.), The Informed Citizens' Guide to Elections: Electioneering Based on the Rule of Law, Toronto: Carswell, 2015, 107-120.

“Tapping the Potential of Senate-Driven Reform: Proposals to Limit the Powers of the Senate,” (2015) 24 Constitutional Forum, No.2, 47-53.

“Constitutional Conventions: The Heart of the Living Constitution,” (2012) 6 Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law, 319-338.

“The Reserve Powers of the Crown: The 2008 Prorogation in Hindsight,” in Jennifer Smith & Michael Jackson (eds.), The Evolving Canadian Crown, Kingston: Queen's Universty Press, 2012, 87-97

With Dan Cohn, "The Federal Government Should Stay Involved: The Case for a Strong Federal Role in Health Care," in in Mark Charlton and Paul Barker (eds.) Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, 7th.ed., Toronto: Nelson, 2012.

“Political Culture and Socialization: the Media and Other Mind Shapers,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 4th.ed., Toronto: Nelson, 2012, 84-115.

“Legislatures: Centre Stage but Not Top Billing,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 4th.ed., Toronto: Nelson, 2012, 220-249.

“The Judiciary: Politics, Law, and the Courts,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 4th.ed., Toronto: Nelson, 2012, 250-278.

“Conacher Missed the Mark on Constitutional Conventions and Fixed Election Dates,” (2010) 19 Constitutional Forum, No.1, 21-32

“Parliamentary Privilege,” in G. T. Kurian (ed.), The Encyclopedia of Political Science, Washington: CQ Press, 2010.

“The Governor General's Decision to Prorogue Parliament: A Chronology and Assessment,” (2009) 18 Constitutional Forum, No.1, 1-11.

“Legality and Fiction about Federal Fixed-Date Elections,” (2009) 2 Journal of Parliamentary and Political Law 199-205.

“The Governor General’s Suspension of Parliament: Duty Done or a Perilous Precedent?” in Peter H. Russell and Lorne Sossin (eds.), Parliament in Crisis, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009, 47-62

“Political Culture and Socialization: the Media and Other Mind Shapers,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 3rd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2009, 84-115.

“Legislatures: Centre Stage but Not Top Billing,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 3rd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2009, 220-249.

“The Judiciary: Politics, Law, and the Courts,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 3rd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2009, 250-278.

“The Governor General's Decision to Prorogue Parliament: Parliamentary Democracy Defended or Endangered?” Center for Constitutional Studies, University of Alberta, Points of View, No.7, January 2009, 2-21, http://www.law.ualberta.ca/centres/ccs/uploads/PointsofView7.pdf

“Constitutional Doubts About Bill C-20 and Senatorial Elections,” in Jennifer Smith (ed.), Senate Reform: Once More Into the Breech, McGill-Queen's University Press, 2009, 81-96

“Assessing Senate Reform Through Bill C-19: The Effects of Limited terms for Senators,” in Jennifer Smith (ed.), Senate Reform: Once More Into the Breech, McGill-Queen's University Press, 2009, 117-139.

With Dan Cohn, “Why the Federal Government Should Continue to Play a Leading Role in Health Care,” in Mark Charlton and Paul Barker (eds.) Crosscurrents: Contemporary Political Issues, 6th.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2009; an earlier version of this chapter appeared in the 5th edition as well.

“Just What is a Vote of Confidence? The Curious Case of May 10, 2005” (2007) Canadian Journal of Political Science, No.2, 395-416.

“Political Culture and Socialization: the Media and Other Mind Shapers,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 2nd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2006, 75-101.

“Legislatures: Centre Stage but Not Top Billing,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 2nd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2006, 185-210.

“The Judiciary: Politics, Law, and the Courts,” in Rand Dyck (ed.), Studying Politics, 2nd.ed., Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2006, 211-233.

“Constitutional Conventions and Parliament,” (2005) 28 Canadian Parliamentary Review (2) 7.

“Political Culture, Socialization, and How We Have Been Taught to Think,” in Rand Dyck (ed.) Studying Politics: An Introduction to Political Science, Scarborough: Nelson, 2003, 73-96

“Legislatures: Such Promise and Potential,”  in Rand Dyck (ed.) Studying Politics: An Introduction to Political Science, Scarborough: Nelson, 2003, 190-214

“The Judiciary: The Power Behind the Throne,”  in Rand Dyck (ed.) Studying Politics: An Introduction to Political Science, Scarborough: Nelson, 2003, 215-235.

With Tim Swartz, “Extended Voting Measures,” (1999) 27 Canadian Journal of Statistics, 177 

With Tim Swartz, “Empirical Banzhaf Indices,” (1998) 97 Public Choice, 701

“Lies My Politician Told Me: Friesen v. Hammel and the Nature of Election Fraud,” (1997) 35 Alberta Law Review, 1057. 

With Tim Swartz, “The Regional Veto Formula and Its Effects on Canada's Constitutional Amendment Process,” (1997) 30 Canadian Journal of Political Science, 339

“The First-Past-the-Post Electoral System: Does it Provide Effective Representation?” in James Guy (ed.), Expanding Our Political Horizons: A Journal of Readings in Canadian Politics and Government, Toronto: Harcourt Brace, 1996.

“The Expulsion and Disqualification of Legislators: Parliamentary Privilege and the Charter of Rights,” (1995) 18 Dalhousie Law Journal 380.

“Constitutional Conventions and Election Campaigns,” (1995) 18 Canadian Parliamentary Review (3) 8.

“Introduction to Canadian Politics”, in David Laycock and Michael Howlett (eds.), The Puzzles of Power, Toronto: Copp Clark Longman, 1994, 413.

“The Supreme Court Entrenches Parliamentary Privilege Out of the Charter's Reach: Donahoe v. CBC,” (1993) 4 (4) Constitutional Forum 102.

“Quebec Courts and The Canadian Charter of Rights,” (1993) 7-8 International Journal of Canadian Studies 153.

“The Charter in the Supreme Court of Canada: The Importance of Which Judges Hear an Appeal,” (1991) 24 Canadian Journal of Political Science 289. 

“The Meech Lake Accord Two Years On: Clause May be Essential to Democracy,” in Gregory S. Mahler and Roman R. March (eds.) Canadian Politics Guildford CT: Dushkin, 1990.

“Recognizing the Variety Among Constitutional Conventions,” (1989) 22 Canadian Journal of Political Science 63.

“Military Law and the Charter of Rights,” (1988) 11 Dalhousie Law Journal 514.

Conference and Other Publications:

“The Provincial Crown and the Lieutenant Governors,” The Crown in a Time of Transition, Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, University of Toronto, June 14, 2019

“Making Sense of the Constitutional Controversies in the SNC-Lavalin Prosecution Scandal,” BC Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Langara College, Vancouver, BC, May 3, 2019

“Sorting Out Who Governs in BC After the Election,” Vancouver Sun, May 18, 2017, p.A13.
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-sorting-out-who-governs-after-the-election
reprinted as “Who Gets to Govern BC After All the Ballots Are Counted,” Calgary Herald, May 19, 2017, p.A11. http://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/heard-sorting-out-who-will-govern-b-c-after-all-the-ballots-are-counted

“The Senate's Review of Bills from the Commons,” BC Political Studies Association Annual Conference, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, May 12, 2016

“Sorting Out Who Governs if No Party Wins a Majority,” Vancouver Sun, October 6, 2015.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/opinion+sorting+governs+party+wins+majority/11418928/story.html

“Achievable Senate Reform,” Policy Options, September 21, 2015.
http://policyoptions.irpp.org/issues/september-2015/the-future-of-the-senate/achievable-senate-reform/

“Let the Senate Reform Itself,” National Post, March 17, 2015, p.A11.
http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/16/andrew-heard-let-the-senate-reform-itself/

“The Potential of Senate-Driven Reform,” Time for Boldness on Senate Reform Conference, Centre for Constitutional Studies, Edmonton, AB, March 14, 2015.

“Constitutional Conventions and Written Constitutions: The Rule of Law Implications in Canada,” Symposium on Conventional Constitutionalism, School of Law, Trinity College Dublin, November 15, 2014.

“The Untapped Potential of Non-constitutional Senate Reform,” British Columbia Political Science Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC, May 9, 2014.

“Dilemmas from Changes to the Royal Succession: Is there a Canadian Monarchy?” British Columbia Political Science Annual Conference, Vancouver, BC, May 2, 2013.

“The Relationship Between Law and Convention: Does the Supreme Court of Canada’s Use of Unwritten Principles Open the Door to Conventions?” British Columbia Political Science Annual Conference, Kelowna, BC, May 3, 2012.

“Constitutional Conventions: The Heart of the Living Constitution,” Canadian Bar Association 2011 National Constitutional Law Conference, Ottawa, Ontario, June 10, 2011

“Parliamentary Privilege” Encyclopedia of Political Science, Congressional Quarterly Press, 2010.

“The Conacher Decision: Death Knell or Catalyst for Effective Fixed-Date Election Legislation?” British Columbia Political Science Annual Conference, Victoria, BC, May 7, 2010.

“Give the House the Authority,”Globe & Mail, January 11, 2010, p.A11. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/give-the-house-the-authority/article1426031/

“Constitutional Conventions: The Devils in the Details,” Pacific Northwest Political Science Association annual conference, Victoria, BC, October 16, 2009.

“The Governor General's Decision to Prorogue Parliament: A Dangerous Precedent,” December 8, 2008.

“Senate Elections: Constitutional Problems,” Senate Reform Conference, Institute on Research on Public Policy and Forum of Federations, Ottawa, November 17, 2008.

“Constitutional Doubts About Bill C-20 and Senatorial Elections,” Working Paper 2008-17, Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen's University, http://www.queensu.ca/iigr/working/senate/papers/heardpapertwo.pdf

“Assessing Senate Reform Through Bill C-19: The Effects of Limited terms for Senators,” Working  Paper 2008-12, Institute of Intergovernmental Relations, Queen's University, http://www.queensu.ca/iigr/working/senate/papers/2008-12.pdf

“Senate Elections,” Published on the Globe & Mail web site, December 27, 2006, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061227.wcomment1227/BNStory/specialComment

“Constitutional Considerations of Senate Reform: Bill S-4 and Limited Terms for Senators,” Paper presented to the annual conference of the Atlantic Provinces Political Science Association, Mount St. Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 16, 2006.

“Divining Confidence in Responsible Government: 2005 and All That,” Paper presented to the annual meetings of the British Columbia Political Studies Association, Nanaimo, BC, May 5, 2006.

“The Confidence Convention and the May 2005 Vote on the Public Accounts Committee Report” May 10, 2005.

“Conventions and Parliament,” Paper Presented to the Law and Parliament Conference organized by the Canadian and Association and the law counsels of the House of Commons and Senate of Canada, Ottawa, November 2004.

“The Figueroa Decision and the ‘Meaningful Role’ of Candidates and Parties,” Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Atlantic Provinces Political Science Association, Université de Moncton, September 25, 2004.

With Greg Clarke, “Representation, Accountability, and Judicial Impartiality” Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the British Columbia Political Studies Association, Vancouver, May 2001.

“The Need to Protect Minority Rights in Canada” Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the British Columbia Political Studies Association, Victoria BC, May 2000.

“First-Past-the-Post and the Charter's Right to Vote: Is There 'Effective Representation'?” Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the Atlantic Provinces Political Science Association, Halifax NS, October 1994.

“When Must Constitutional Innovation be Achieved by Formal Amendment?” Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Calgary Alberta, June 1994.

“Quebec Courts and the Canadian Charter of Rights, 1983-1989”, Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Charlottetown PEI, June 1992.

“The Charter of Rights in Nova Scotian Courts: 1982-1990”, Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Kingston Ontario, June 1991. 

“Proposals Relating to a Nova Scotia Judicial Council”, submission to the Nova Scotia Court Structure Task Force, June 1990; this submission was invited by the Nova Scotia Attorney General.

“The Charter in the Supreme Court of Canada”, Paper Presented to the Annual Conference of the Canadian Political Science Association, Victoria B.C., May 1990.
 

Book Reviews:

Review of David Milner (ed.), Steps Toward Making Every Vote Count: Electoral System Reform in Canada and its Provinces, (2005) Canadian Journal of Political Science, December 2005, pp 1070-1073.

Review of Patrick J. Monahan, Constitutional Law, in (1999) 5 Review of Constitutional Studies 106. 

Review article of: Ian Stewart, Roasting Chestnuts: The Mythology of Maritime Political Culture; D. Lenihan, G. Robertson, R. Tassé, Canada: Reclaiming the Middle Ground; Gordon Gibson, Plan B: The Future of the Rest of Canada, (1995) 25 Publius 193.

Review of: Pierre Fournier, A Meech Lake Post-Mortem: Is Quebec Sovereignty Inevitable?, in (1992) 71 Dalhousie Review 112.

Review of: Jack Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice, in (1990-91) 46 International Journal 195.

Awards:

King Charles III Coronation Medal, 2025

Professor Emeritus - Simon Fraser University, 2024

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2022

Fellow - Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, 2020.

Simon Fraser University Award for Teaching Excellence, 2003

Internet Work:

In 2004 I created a site for Canadian federal elections and updated it for each general election until 2015; it attracted about 1.3 million visitors during the 2011 campaign. Due to pressures of time, however, this site is now only rarely updated.

I also developed the content for the political science Internet resource sites on Canadian and international politics for Thomson Nelson Canada, from 1997 to 2006. I also maintained the web site for the Canadian Association of Security and Intelligence Studies. 

I managed the POLCAN mail list, the official mail list of the Canadian Political Science Association from 1997 to 2001.

I also own and run 123BuildaSite.com offering web hosting.

Education:

• BA. -Dalhousie 1975-8
• BA.Hon.Cert. - Dalhousie 1978-9
• MSc(Econ.) - London School of Economics 1980-1
• PhD - University of Toronto 1983-7