2007-07 (July)
July 20, 2007
Albertans Lead the Fight for Senate Reform
They say the easiest way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. The same strategy can be applied to Senate reform – appoint one elected Senator at a time.
The Constitution gives the Prime Minister the power to appoint Senators, who receive $125,800 for sitting about 90 days a year, until they reach age 75. Since Confederation, Senate appointments have been used to reward political friends and allies.
Canada needs an upper house that provides sober second thought and gives a voice to the country’s diverse regions. During the last election, Conservatives promised to make Canada’s Senate an effective, independent and democratically elected body. While constitutional change is a long, difficult process, Prime Minister Stephen Harper developed a practical, legislative plan to reform the Senate without full scale constitutional negotiations.
First, Bill S-4 was introduced in the Senate to limit terms to eight years. Then, C-43 that proposes to change the way vacant Senate seats are filled was introduced in the House of Commons. This would give voters an opportunity to choose their preferred Senate candidates as part of federal elections. The Prime Minister would then consult this list when making appointments to the Senate, just as Mr. Harper did on July 10th when he officially appointed Alberta Senator-in-waiting Bert Brown, to the Senate of Canada.
It has been over twenty years since Senator Brown plowed the message “Triple E Senate or Else” into his neighbour's barley field. Since then, he ran in three separate Alberta Senate elections, becoming the only Canadian to ever win a second term as a Senator-in-waiting.
He will have his hands full when he takes his seat in September. Liberal Senators, who hold 61 of the 105 seats in the Senate, awakened from their slumber, fighting mad and vowing to stop any changes proposed by Canada’s New Government to make their Chamber more democratic.
While Liberal Senators moved to kill Bill S-4 on term limits, Liberal MPs in the House of Commons used procedural tactics to stop Bill C-43, thereby denying Canadians a direct voice in the selection of Senators. Their delaying tactics are not restricted to Senate reform. Other important Bills that would: protect our children by raising the Age of Protection from 14 to 16; set mandatory prison sentences for gun crime and end the revolving door of bail for gun crime have been also been held up.
As Prime Minister Harper said, there is no doubt that Bert Brown “will serve Alberta and its interests well”. I know that I am looking forward to working with him on matters of interest to Albertans and Canadians.
Despite the efforts of the Liberals, Senate reform is underway. It could be a long process, but not an impossible one and Albertans are leading the way - one elected Senator at a time.
If you wish more information on these or any federally related matters please contact my Constituency office at: #6, 4612 - 50th Street, Ponoka, T4J 1S7 tel: (403) 783-5530; toll free:1-800-665-0865 or check my web site: www.blainecalkinsmp.ca