Harper appoints elected Senator amid Oppostion objections

[monicamonni]

Your Majesty, Sir: I'm so disappointed with U, Your Majesty, Sir, for appointing ghost senators, Your Majesty: truly worth a politician's word, Your Majesty. Welcome Fidel Castro & Louis XIV. L'État c'est moi. True North Strong and Free yeah right. No good to disappoint blondes, Your Majesty

[KangaKucha]

this is one issue I can't stand witht the NDP on, I think there idea is terrible, and would be wrong for the country. IMHO I think the senate should be elected by the provinces with whateveose to do as long a it's proposional repsentation, and the house should remain as it is but with a preference voting ticket. We need the balance of two houses, one for the people and the provinces in Canada, not a unicamberal mix mash, in which Quebec and others will never agree too.

[Cnd1867]

Democracy is window-dressing Jack?

[Cnd1867]

The liberals always use the constitution as a scapegoat to try to make their arguments valid. Dion, B.C. and Alberta would get MORE senators under Harper's plan, and for once canadians could choose their senators. There is NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING wrong we having an elected senate, but in this clip Dion sounds like an elected senate means the end of Canada, he's just scared because once we do get an elected senate, the Liberals will FINALLY be tossed out!

[Cnd1867]

Oh Dion are you afraid that canadians will throw your useless senators out of the senate and replace them with fresh new conservative senators

[RimlandThesis]

Radical-wing

that is a good idea, you should write a letter to Harpie.

I think we need to have the Senate, then the Bloc would haev no reason to exist as an elected senate would address regional (especially as Quebec is its own region) issues and provincials issues as it was designed to do....just need elected officals is all.

[RadicalWhig]

There's one simple, effective change that could be achieved without any need for legislation or constitutional reform: let the Governor-General appoint Senators on the advice of the Provincial Premiers, not the Prime Minister. It would not be any more "democratic", but it would spread out the power of patronage and represent a broader cross-section.

[Cnd1867]

We're not talking about proportional representation for the Commons Jack, we're talking about the SENATE, it's a whole different room, and position. Dion says it would be bad for alberta and B.C., so Stephane, having more representation in the senate is BAD for alberta and B.C. or is it just that Liberals wouldn't always have a majority in the senate like you want them to. And another thing, why is it that whenever the liberals are threatened the mention or bring in the constitution or charter

[go4john]

Rona Ambrose is hot.

[bradwhitcombe]

Also abolishing the senat would be a resipy for disaster we need the senat so that we have people to revew the proposed bills for a second sober thoght and the senat sould represent the interasts of the provences

[bradwhitcombe]

i personaly think that we keep the senate, and that we have senate elections with the people that are choson canadats based on sertin merits by each party, then elect them to represent the provenses

[pspboy7]

The Liberals have but one goal, that is to beat the Conservatives and nothing else matters till they do.

[pspboy7]

LOL, is there anything that the other parties do agree with the PM on. Shame, crying shame. There is too much party loyalty and not enough loyalty and/or faith to the elected leader (PM). True democracy is not just about winning elections you know.

[AlienCollective]

Yeldarb4: "My preference would be to abolish the Senate, as they have done in Australia."

Bullshit. Australia has a senate elected on a system of proportional representation. Its role is similar to that of the Senate under the British Parliamentary system which Australia and Canada share.

I am no expert on Australian affairs (clearly, an attribute that we share), but to the best of my knowledge there is little controversy over the relevance of the nation's Senate.

Next time, check your facts.

[PrimarySource888]

You might be interested to check out Harper's speech to the Australian parliament where he talks about the elected Australian senate.

YouTube video uxuINgcHFzo .

[KangaKucha]

@PrimarySource888 which wasn't cool, you can say that to a forien addenance.

[KangaKucha]

@AlienCollective wait WHO SAID THAT? is that dude dumb as shit? when did Australis become like New Zealand, who he was likly thinking of, but still, as an Aussie, I;m insalted that ANYONE could make a mistake like that, the flag is understandable, but politics?

[irishgodfatherchris]

@AlienCollective here's the facts all parliaments in Australia with the exception of Queensland and the two territories (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory) are bicameral with all members elected our Senate is made up of 76 members (12 from each state regardless of population and 2 for each Territory they constantly complain but they are also aware that constitutionally they don't have to have any senators)

[jwlnler]

Personally, I think we need one of two things: 1) reform the Senate or 2) Abolish it. Personally, I think a Triple-E Senate, combined with an MMP (Mixed-Member Proportional) system in the House of Commons is what we truly need! This way, provinces big and small, in addition to minorities like the Greens, would be represented in both chambers!

[Yeldarb4]

My preference would be to abolish the Senate, as they have done in Australia. My second preference would be for an equal and elected Senate.

[baird007]

I smell Liberal fear and hear Liberal fearmongering.