[RUEZ]

EyeBrock EyeBrock:

Maybe the Libs should have gone along with looking at an elected Senate when Harper suggested it in 2006. Crocodile tears.

Funny how the unelected senate becomes an issue all of a sudden.

[Public_Domain]

[Zipperfish]

Goes to show that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have much interest in an elected senate. They may make noises when trying to get into power, but once there...no dice.

[BartSimpson]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Goes to show that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have much interest in an elected senate. They may make noises when trying to get into power, but once there...no dice.

Sort of like down here every time the Democrats lose a Presidential election they demand that the Electoral College be abolished. Same thing.

[EyeBrock]

The Liberals left them no choice Zip. They were not going for a EEE senate when it meant them losing any modicum of power so Harper just waited. Now they have lost the edge they had.

[ASLplease]

Im glad we have a sober second thought to anything that the liberals and ndp pass in parliment

[gonavy47]

Layton complaining about democracy being usurped?! Wasn't he one of the three bandits who tried to usurp the government not too long ago? Shame shame!

[hurley_108]

sandorski sandorski:

Since the Senate is structured on the per Province model, what I'd like to see is for the Provinces to choose whom their Permanent Senators are. I would even be willing to let the individual Provinces choose How those Senators are chosen. The Premier can choose, there can be an Election, draw the name out of a hat, fisticuffs, whatever. Just remove it from the PM.

Absolutely not. I would not stand for elections to a national body being different from province to province. That's just a recipe for the Premiers getting to weild influence over federal lawmaking as each will tweak the system to their best advantage.

The electoral system, if Senators are to be elected, MUST be the same from province to province.

[kenmore]

Well you got to do what the king says and he said kill it! but he won't take the fall for it.

[bootlegga]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Goes to show that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have much interest in an elected senate. They may make noises when trying to get into power, but once there...no dice.

That about hits the nail on the head.

Politicians of all stripes will promise anything and everything to get elected, but once in office, many of those promises are suddenly forgotten.

[andyt]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Goes to show that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have much interest in an elected senate. They may make noises when trying to get into power, but once there...no dice.

That about hits the nail on the head.

Politicians of all stripes will promise anything and everything to get elected, but once in office, many of those promises are suddenly forgotten.

That's because making a dramatic change like that would lead to all sorts of opposition, no matter who proposed it. There's no real upside to it, just lose votes.

[bootlegga]

It's probably a big factor in our low voter turnout rates too. After all, why vote if they are all a bunch of lying, self-serving pricks, right?

However, in fairness, those who do make big changes are usually vilified for it.

Diefenbaker cancelled a very costly fighter plane and never lived that down, Trudeau brought over our Constitution and was never forgiven for some of the additions, Mulroney tried not once, but twice tried to amend it AND brought in free trade & GST, making him one of the most hated PMs in history, and finally Chretien slashed and burned the federal budget until they had a surplus.

I'm sure I've missed a few, but by and large, when a PM makes big changes, he winds up hated by large portions of the populace...which is why so few of late have been willing to rock the boat.

[DrCaleb]

The headline is misleading. Bert Brown was actually Elected to the Senate.

[bootlegga]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

The headline is misleading. Bert Brown was actually Elected to the Senate.

IMHO, they lacked true legitimacy because only the PCs participated.

It reminded me of 'elections' in the old USSR - "You can vote for anyone Communist you want!"

[EyeBrock]

I think the time is ripe for a rebellion in line with the 1837 one and some 'responsible government' reforms.

The Senate should be elected otherwise they will continue to be a Family Compact with two families fighting it out for decades more.

Rise up brothers and sisters!