Prime Minister Harper wants to tamper with The Canadian Senate - one of the strong bases upon which Confederation was built. He is trying to dismantle our parliamentary democracy and changing of the Senate will have seriously negative consequences in my opinion. But who would want to question the Prime Minister's motives?
As you know our system of government - parliamentary democracy - has three parts - Legislative, Administrative and Judicial.
If judges and lawyers and police officers behave badly we do not contemplate throwing out the judicial and enforcement components of our democratic system of self-government - nor do we target parts of the system like the Court of Appeals or Supreme Court for elimination or destruction or do away with lawyers, prosecutors and due process.
Same with The House of Commons - many MPs and even some PMs have proven less worthy than others for these august offices and duties. But we still believe in legislative process and the powers of parliament and we do not discuss eliminating the Privy Council or parliamentary committees and officers - OR the Prime Minister.
The Senate has a place in our system that seems to mystify many Canadians - and this mystery is used by him and others as a lever to discredit The Senate.
But to me as a citizen and careful watcher of Senate Committees and in my many interactions with Senators over the years The Senate has been a happy functional surprise in the midst of what has often been chaos in the Lower House and The Prime Minister's Office [PMO].
Senators have stood up for the helpless and the vulnerable and for accountable government. And in keeping with their constitutionally defined job descriptions they have represented their regions to provide balance across all parts of a Canada that has always had uneven population distribution.
Thus less populated regions still have a meaningful voice in this Upper House. This was one of the conditions for Confederation – fair representation across unequal constituencies is very important to sparsely populated places like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.
So damaging the historic functionality of The Senate is really an assault upon Canada's Regions, provinces and more vulnerable population groups, all contrary to the intent and spirit of Confederation. And by the way I have seen evidence that even some new Conservative Senators take their duties to heart and will not be manipulated.
Removing the Senate will not produce the jobs, wealth, investment, increase in the financial tax base or any other useful steps in addressing what many see as a macro-crisis in its early stages.
It will not help the environment nor the economy. But it WILL create another constitutional crisis and I'm sure that would please the guy who is striving to dismantle Canada and strip you of your Rights and collective inheritance. :) That's right – Stephen Harper!
With all due respect it does look like a distraction to me and has been part of trustworthy old Steve Harper's plans and rhetoric since he entered politics. What better reason could we want to make it our priority too!??
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