Harper appoints elected Senator amid Oppostion objections

Should Canada have an elected Senate?
Vote here: http://canuckpolitics.com/2007/04/18/harper-appoints-elected-senator/

April 18, 2007 - Stephen Harper announced in Question Period today that he would appoint Alberta farmer Bert Brown to the Senate when Liberal Senator Dan Hayes retires this summer.

Brown, a long-time advocate for Senate reform, was elected twice in Alberta as a 'Senator-in-waiting', most recently in 2004. He is one of four Alberta Senators-in-waiting.

Brown will be Canada's second elected Senator, following Stan Waters who was appointed by Brian Mulroney in 1989 after being elected Senator-in-waiting in Alberta. No other province has elected Senators-in-waiting.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Canada
• politics
• Harper
• Dion
• Layton
• Senate
• reform

[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 .

[silverbullet902]

why would the liberals oppose this, they are such a bunch of corrupt aholes

[go4john]

Rona Ambrose is hot.

[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

[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)

[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?

[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.