In Alberta here we had lead on senate reform being the only province to ever elect a senator. First was Stan Waters who PM Brian Mulroney appointed in the '90's. Then in 2004 senate elections were held where Bert Brown who PM Stephen Harper appointed, and is now a sitting CPC Senator in the Upper Chamber.
We were supposed to have senate elections last fall along with our municipal elections but out going Premier Ed Stelmach decided not to hold them.instead extending the current senators-in-waiting their term. Now the PC leadership candidates have vowed to bring senate elections back to coincide with the next provincial election which could be as early as this fall.
Bring it on! We will be electing senators again regardless it seems because Danielle Smith and the Wildrose Party are also committed to Senate reform. They're at the moment looking for nominees.
Let's be leaders again! Hopefully the other provinces will take note and decide to do like wise. We must make sure we keep pressing all the PC candidates and the Wildrose to make sure this happens. We should all know politicians by now of all stripes just because they promise something doesn't mean they'll follow through. Don't let them off the hook!
The only way we will ever have a Senate that means anything is when it is entirely elected and there are the same amount of Senators from each province and territory. I do not care how many each entity has as long as all have the same representation. I am not holding my breath waiting for that to happen. If that can not be achieved the Senate should be abolished as it will be nothing but a rubber stamp for the party in power or an artificial hindrance to the peoples choice because of previously appointed members that do not reflect the peoples wishes. If we have a Senate it must mean something not be a reward for party hacks or a haven for those that do not fit anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteJust a PS to my previous post. The only reason the current governing party is saying anything about this is because it is part of the WildRose platform and they are trying to jump on the band wagon.
ReplyDeleteJust a PS to my previous post. The only reason the current governing party is saying anything about this is because it is part of the WildRose platform and they are trying to jump on the band wagon.
ReplyDeleteBob,I think you could be right. None the less if we want an elected accountable senate we have to start somewhere. Pressure has to be put on all of them!
Then in 2004 senate elections were held where Bert Brown who PM Stephen Harper appointed, and is now a sitting CPC Senator in the Upper Chamber.
ReplyDeletefrmgrl,
you forgot to mention that Paul Martin ignored Alberta's chosen elected senator Bert Brown to the senate, however, when PM Harper came to power, he appointed our chosen senator.
frmgrl,
ReplyDeleteyou forgot to mention that Paul Martin ignored Alberta's chosen elected senator Bert Brown to the senate, however, when PM Harper came to power, he appointed our chosen senator.
Thanks for the reminder Jen. I did forget that!