Last best hope for democracy in Canada: An appointed Senate
“Consider what happens now when you elect someone to go to Ottawa.
No sooner have they spent their first term in office than they’re emailing home to explain why they voted for something their constituents didn’t want.
The reason, of course, is party discipline. They’re “whipped,” i.e., told to vote with their party or else leave caucus. Most stay and do what they’re told. Without the party, it’s very difficult to get re-elected.”
February 22, 2010
See also the British proposal to elect the members of the House of Lords.
Senator Elaine McCoy
Michael De Adder/Artizans.comStephen Harper has for several years now claimed that his proposed reforms for the Canadian Senate are about bringing accountability and democracy to the much-maligned second chamber.
With his most recent prorogation of Parliament, however, it is clear that for all his rhetoric, his reforms are less about a thoughtful reinvigoration of our political institutions and more about maintaining political power. Read more…
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