A mockery of democracy
The question was asked,
and answered in spades.
Patronage will prevail.
Canadians have been
told in no uncertain
terms that their Prime
Minister will not appoint
as Senators persons
they have already elected
to represent them as
Senators. Instead, he
will nominate "qualified"
appointees. This was
his response at a town
hall meeting early in
February.
Canadian taxpayers will
remain free to elect
whom they choose to
represent them as Members
of Parliament. But,
oh dear me, they cannot
be trusted to elect
"qualified"
Senators. One man, and
one man only, will say
who is "qualified".
In January this e-zine
appealed
to party leaders
to make a personal commitment
that "I will not
appoint anyone to the
Senate unless that person
has first been elected."
In February we
repeated the appeal,
reiterating one plain
and simple fact that
the Constitution is
not an obstacle to Canadians
having the same right
to elect Senators as
they have to elect MPs.
On February 9 a personal
commitment was sought
from the Prime Minister
in the House of Commons.
"Will the Prime
Minister commit
to the appointment
of elected senators?
Plain and simple,
will he commit?"
The triple-portfolioed
Minister of Health,
Minister of Intergovernmental
Affairs, and Minister
responsible for Official
Languages chose to reply,
and cited the Charlottetown
Accord.
The dual portfolioed
Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of Public
Safety and Emergency
Preparedness, in reply
to a supplementary question
said Senate reform was
not easy.
There followed the usual
rigmarole, standard
issue hackneyed excuses
for not making a commitment
to appointing Senators
elected by the Canadian
people.
Again the message was
clear. The people can't
be trusted to elect
"qualified"
Senators. Patronage
will determine the chosen
ones, the qualified
ones, and the people
can go fly a kite.
This is the Twenty-first
century. When the people
speak they do not want
lectures. They want
commitments. They want
democracy. An unelected
Senate is a mockery
of democracy.
The Canadian Senate is
the biggest democratic
deficit in the whole
country. No one can
pretend they don't know
that.
To let your Prime Minister
know that you are serious
about wanting the right
to elect your own Senators,
no ifs, ands or buts,
send him an e-mail Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
and ask for a reply.
If you get an answer
and it is unsatisfactory,
send
another e-mail,
and another,
and another.
Eventually, someone
in his office may let
him know that Canadians,
and lots of them, want
the Senate democratic
deficit remedied via
the public's right to
elect Senators.
Decrying a democratic
deficit is one thing.
Approving its continuance
in the Senate is another.
No Government can enjoy
public confidence saying
one thing and doing
another.
There is absolutely no
need to amend the Constitution
to allow Canadians to
elect Senators.
Trying to distance itself
from the scandals perpetrated
by the Chrétien
government, the Martin
government can demonstrate
it is different, that
things will not continue
as usual in federal
patronage-ridden politics,
by showing it has faith
in the Canadian people.
If people are barred
from exercising their
democratic right to
vote in Senate elections,
why should they vote
for a Government that
is no different from
its predecessor?
Once again, this is the
Twenty-first century,
yet in Canada the Senate
remains a mockery of
democracy.
Patronage or democracy.
Which do you choose?
Once again, tell the
Prime Minister what
you want, what you need,
what you deserve.
That is the wonder of
the Internet. You can
make your voice count
simply by clicking Martin.P@parl.gc.ca,
and telling the Prime
Minister you want an
elected Senate and that
the Constitution is
not an obstacle.
Do it now, before more
unelected persons are
appointed to the Senate.
--30--
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