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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.

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