Deep Six It.
Lots in the news these days about what to do with the Senate - the answer - and only answer is to Disband It.
When I was a first years student studying Political Science I wrote an Essay on the Senate which called for its retention as an "August Body of Sober Second Thought".
I was young and naive and hadn't yet realized that finding a "sober" Senator was in itself a Feat.
In truth - the current Senate is an Undemocratic Body filled by burned out Politicians and Aged Bag Men (aka political fundraisers). It is very much Welfare for Has-Beens.
Maybe a little strong but not that far off.
Okay then - why not reform it - Make It Elected?
And what would we have then - a Second Elected Body doing the same work as the First (i.e. the House of Commons).
Redundant Bureaucracy at its Best.
Couldn't the Senate be Elected to Represent the Provinces as it is in the good ole US of A?
Yes it could, but it would be unwise to do so.
Our system of Confederation differs from that of America's. We have a very specific differentiation of Powers in Canada between Federal and Provincial This division is setout in Sections 91 (Fed Powers) and 92 (Provincial Powers) of the BNA Act - e.g. The National Government is responsible for Canada's Armed Forces and the Provinces are responsible for Health and Education.
In sum, the Provinces have lots do within their own realm of responsibilities and collectively can take care of themselves.
But the Senate does good work via its Committees - Does it Not?
Not Really.
Yes they are always meeting about one thing or the other and some good work gets done - but given their irrelevance - that work is more oft ignored. Call it busy work.
That said, there is certainly a glaring lack of meaningful and probing committee work on the Hill. It is in desperate need of being done and the people to do it are our Members of Parliament. These current No-bodies when they leave the Hill.
This is an area where we could mirror what goes on in Politics to our South. They have very Strong Committees and Strong Committee Memberships - it would not only give useful and meaningful work to non-Cabinet Ministers but would instill needed vibrancy to our Democratic Process.
The monies saved from disbanding the Senate could be applied to establishing these needed House of Common's Committees - e.g. more research staff. More funds than that will be required but at least it would be a start.
In closing permit me to go back to the Sober Second Thought basis for the Senate that is oft used in wishing its retention.
Give me one example of where the Senate used Sober Second Thought rather than Petty Politics in its deliberations?
I cannot think of any.
Rather, if the Tories control the House and the Grits control the Senate - the Grits will do their best to defeat the Tory Agenda - and this applies in reverse.
I would love to be able to redo my first year paper.
As I See It....
K.D. Galagher
