The Undemocratic Canadian
Senate-We are not alone
"For 135 years
Canadians have been
denied the fundamental
democratic right
to elect the membership
of their own Senate.
The power to appoint
the membership is
held by one person.
In no other advanced
civilization in
the world does one
person have the
power to appoint
one entire chamber
of Parliament."
Canadian Vindicator
January 1 2002.
"Is there a
Canadian leader
who has the courage
to say:
'If I become Prime
Minister I will
not appoint anyone
to the Senate until
that person has
been elected by
the qualified voters
in the province
which that person
is to represent.'
Canadian Vindicator
April 1 2002.
Canadians have overwhelmingly
demanded an elected
Senate. Political
parties should not
divvy up Senate
appointments among
themselves. The
demand of Canadians
grows and grows
as the number of
appointments grows
and grows. Someone
has to take a lead
on behalf of present
and future generations
of Canadians.
Canadian Vindicator
July 1 2002.
"No other country
in the world that
deigns to call itself
a democracy will
allow its prime
minister personally
to appoint an entire
legislative chamber.
Mr. Martin could,
therefore, begin
the process of democratic
transformation by
declaring that,
under his stewardship,
individuals could
only qualify for
the Senate by first
being elected in
their home province."
Blair Williams, professor
emeritus at Montreal's
Concordia University,
national director of
the Liberal Party of
Canada from 1972 to
1975, writing in the
Ottawa Citizen December
16, 2002.
Note: The Mr. Martin
referred to above is
the Hon. Paul Martin
who is seeking to become
leader of the Liberal
Party of Canada in succession
to the Right Hon. Jean
Chrétien.
--30--
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