Pursuing our examination of the state of democracy in Canada attention is directed once more to the Senate, the third wheel in the body politic that constitutes the Parliament of Canada, the others being the Commons and the Monarchy.

Since Confederation there have been 840 persons occupying seats in the Senate. Of these 840 only 1 was elected by the people of Canada. One out of eight hundred and forty.

Do you think that is democratic? If you do, read no further. Go googling through the Web for matter more suited to your tastes.

How did the other 839 become Senators? A total of 73 were appointed by Royal Proclamation and 766 by our Prime Ministers. The numbers tell the story.

During their various administrations the number of Senators appointed by each Prime Minister since Confederation is given in the following table. It is suggested that you print it out and paste it close to your computer. It will remind you of a democratic right that Canadians have been denied for over 134 years, the right to choose their public representatives in the Senate of Canada.

Not to dwell on old unhappy things and battles long ago, the vast bulk of Canadians now living are well acquainted with two names on that list, the Right Hon. Brian Mulroney and the Right Hon. Jean Chrétien. Between them they have appointed 115 Senators to sit in the Upper Chamber. There is no doubt that total will grow until the current Prime Minister departs office.

Of the 57 appointed by Mr. Mulroney 55 are listed as Conservatives, 1 Reform (the only Senator ever elected), and 1 Independent.

Of the 58 appointed by Mr Chrétien 56 are listed as Liberals, and 2 Independents.

Between them they have appointed 111 Senators representing their own parties, and 3 listed as Independents.

Is this democracy in Canada in the 21st century? It may have been acceptable in the 20th or 19th centuries. Of Laurier's 81 appointees, 80 were Liberals, and all of Mackenzie King's 103 appointees bore the Liberal tag. All 37 appointed by Diefenbaker were Conservatives, all 39 appointed by Pearson were Liberals.

The only deviant in recent times was Trudeau. Of his 81 appointees 70 were Liberals (no surprise), but 7 were Conservatives, 3 were Independents, and 1 was Social Credit.

The reason was simple.

Trudeau, in the vernacular of the day, had political smarts, particularly after his near defeat in 1972. When he learned that a Conservative in a vulnerable constituency might be amenable to becoming a Senator, thus opening his Commons seat to a possible Liberal win in a by-election, Trudeau was willing to take the gamble.

He once lost his gamble heavily and spectacularly, elevating one of his own Liberals to open up a Toronto seat for a favourite backroom operator, only to have his choice of candidate lose the subsequent by- election.

To return to the 21st century, the question is asked: Is the Senate of Canada a democratically elected institution? Do you favour its retention in its present form?

Have you made your views known to your democratically elected representatives in the Commons?

Avail yourself of the opportunity now, before surfing to another site, to send an e-mail to your Member of Parliament and let your view be registered.

One elected Senator out of a total of 840. Something is askew.

You, your family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances can take the lead in fighting for a democratically elected Senate in Canada.

As this article is being published on the Internet, the House of Commons is enjoying its summer recess of more than two months. The Internet does not take a recess. It is at your service twenty-four hours a day. Let your views be made known, and known, and known. And ask does your Member of Parliament defend an undemocratic, unelected, but very selective Senate of Canada.

Vindicator.ca will return to this subject at a later date.