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In contrast to his predecessors, Prime Minister Stephen Harper understands the value of keeping a political promise. One of them is reforming Canada's ineffectual Senate, created by the Fathers Of The Confederation in the British North America Act Of 1867 as a political retirement home for party hacks. The Canadian Senate has never represented provincial interests because it would have kept Ontario and Quebec, then as as now the country's two most populous provinces from running the country unchallenged. It was a happy arrangement until Albeta, Stephen Harper's home province, rebelled over the iron-fisted rule of Central Canada and demanded a Triple E Senate: Elected, Equal and Effective - one that would grant the long-ignored West the clout to protect its interests in the federal government. This is far from becoming a reality but Harper intends to get the ball rolling by limiting Senators to six to nine years in office and seating elected Senators in the body. At the very least, if the Canadian Government succeeds in amending the formula for the tenure and seating of Senators, the Canadian Senate will slowly become a true upper house. That would be good for Canadian federalism, good for the Canadian West and good for Canadian voters who like to have a say in picking their leaders.

(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )

1 posted on 09/08/2006 11:24:23 PM PDT by goldstategop

To: Proud Canadian

2 posted on 09/08/2006 11:29:14 PM PDT by Thunder90

To: goldstategop

I don't know about that. If they'd take one good look at ours, they're reconsider.

3 posted on 09/08/2006 11:30:40 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Bring your press credentials to Qana, for the world's most convincing terrorist street theater.)

To: goldstategop

I don't know about that. If they'd take one good look at ours, they would reconsider.

4 posted on 09/08/2006 11:30:53 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Bring your press credentials to Qana, for the world's most convincing terrorist street theater.)

To: goldstategop

I like this man tremendously. I have learned to be skeptical of WND though.

5 posted on 09/08/2006 11:32:40 PM PDT by kinoxi

To: goldstategop

I've never understood how a Senate could even function in a Parliamentary system. To give it equal weight would require modelling the entire governing system more towards the American government set-up, leading to a direct or electoral college-style election of the PM, rather than electing them just from the Parliamentary body itself.

6 posted on 09/08/2006 11:34:28 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)

To: goldstategop

" So what Canada adopted instead was a farce. Canadian senators were appointed for life by the government in power (though now they are generously pensioned at 75). It became an extended care home for party loyalists. "

With the incumbency we have and their benefits..some parts of our senates are strikingly close.

I'd love to see some of those duly elected since oh say 1962! Gone, yes you teddy kennedy

17 posted on 09/09/2006 3:26:18 AM PDT by Kakaze (Exterminate Islamofacism and Apologize for nothing.....except not doing it sooner!)

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