For Anybody Else That Would Be A Hint
Our personal opinions on what should/should not happen with the Senate aside it is, as Harper indicates, painfully obvious that there is no national will to reform the institution.
When discussing his (apparently) impending appointment of as many as 18 new Senators he said
“In a way, it’s a sad day for me,” said Harper in an interview with ATV. “I’ve waited for three years. We’ve invited provinces to hold elections. We’ve put an electoral bill before the House of Commons. But for the most part, neither in Parliament nor in the provinces has there been any willingness to move forward on reform.”
(emphasis mine)
It doesn’t get much clearer than that, the will of the people is seemingly clear, “neither in Parliament nor in the provinces has there been any willingness to move forward on reform.”
At this point there are few options available to him:
- drop the matter because there is no national will to move forward
- try and force what he thinks is best onto a country that is obviously not interested
What’s yer bet?
I don’t think the will of the people has been spoken on the senate. A year ago a poll suggested most people want to see reforms in the senate, and would like to give input on it. Many of the premiers of the provinces want to play ball with Harper though, so senate reform is difficult.
The NDPs position on the senate (I believe) is that it should be abolished entirely.
So I think your two options are wrong. There is national will, but those with a vested interest in the status quo (the Liberals and many provincial premiers) don’t want to touch it. Canadians have never really been asked on this (or many other) issues.
It’s very simple Ian; if harper wants to reform the Senate, he can re-open Constitutional talks and try to get 7 provinces consisting of 75% of the population to agree to changes to the upper chamber. The Liberals have nothing to do with his little ploy, other then pointing out that his piecemeal attempts to do reforms are unconstitutional…. all that talk of his is just more redd herrings trying to blame anyone but himself.
Anyone know which Senate seats he wants to fill?
Throbbin, Willie’s seat is either open or opening – he just turned 75.
Ian: I agree that the current method of determining whether or not Canadians do/do not want Senate reform is flawed – there is one way to find out, but I can’t see Harper actually holding a referendum.
Scott: For your information
(b) is the important one here.
38(1) says
7 provinces with 50% of the population. That essentially means that Ontario & Quebec have to be happy with it and the people of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut can go p*ss up a rope because they just don’t frigging count – I consider that neither fair nor equitable.
And people wonder why the west is unhappy? Like the 3 territories they just don’t friggen count do they?
David maybe?
David S? Too Liberal, too Todd.
No, twas thinking of David A. I hear the rabbit maybe too. What a shame.
I heard they may ask Chief Clarence Louie, of the Osooyoos band in BC. I met him a couple of years ago. Very impressive man.
SL – Wikipedia says Willie has until June 2009.
I wonder if Harper can appoint Senators who have not yet reached their term.
And as far as senate reform goes, most canadians have no idea what it is or how it works and don’t care. Until they are educated as to why change is a good idea, they’re not going to want to open a constitutional debate over it. Canada can be very conservative that way.
By conservative I mean the lack of willingness to change institutions, not in a right-wing kind of way. Calm down.
I hear ya nastyboy – I recently enjoyed a discussion about Canada’s conservatism in one of my classes. Many couldn’t wrap their idea around Canada being a conservative country seemingly unable to get rid of FPTP, unable to elect anything other than Lib or Con, our appointments to Courts and the Senate, etc.
@nastyboy – I believe Chief Louie, who would be an excellent choice, has already expressed his disinterest in such an appointment although I can’t find a link to anything that supports that. Just scuttlebutt out here on the west coast. An Asian-Canadian might be a more appropriate choice if there’s only one vacancy to fill from BC.
I like Chief Louie – he don’t take no crap from the AFN, and his popular saying “Real Warriors have jobs” is a motivation to many of us.
Thanks Throbbin! I think that’s a fun exercise (to think of either a First Nations, Metis, or Inuit person who could be appointed to the Senate). But remember Harper said that whomever he selected would have to agree to a set term and eventual elections so that could rule out a few. And they would need to be Conservatives too….There are Conservatives within the Aboriginal community…. just look to Patrick Brazeau from the Congress of Aboriginal People!! EUREKA!!
Of course, thats it!
PATRICK FOR SENATOR! YES!!!!
I was ruled out due to the fact that my position that baby corn is trying to turn me gay might be seen as “controversial”. That and my uncontrolled Tim Hortons rampages .