No question - the Senate. It is a waste of money and is just a retirement home for Flaks / Hacks / Ner-do-wells. And oh yes, it is undemocratic. I get a little carried away ...
So what about an Elected Senate?
It would only succeed in adding another layer to an already slow and bureaucratic legislative process. Better to spend the money on House Committees to make them effective and to provide the ordinary MP with some real power.
I have heard it said that we need a Senate because the USA has a Senate to protect their States (read Provinces). But America does not have our British North America which protects the Provinces through a division of power with the Federal Government.
And as for Sober Second Thought - I have yet to see it happen. Perhaps it's due to the 'Sober' requirement?
The sooner the Senate goes - the better. Indeed, I would like to see Stephen Harper include its abolishment as part of his next Election Platform.
So what about the Monarchy? Should it go too?
No.
Can you imagine a President Jean Chretien? I shudder.
With the Monarchy, we here in Canada have something very special - dating back to the year 924 A.D..
Once it is gone - it is gone forever and Canadians will be the poorer for it. That said, I am not optimistic about its future given that many Canadians are either apathetic to the Monarchy or outright antagonistic.
They do not stop to consider what its replacement would be.
Simply stated, it would consist of more politicians which in turn would mean more partisan politics.
The value of the Monarchy is that it is above Politics and as such is unbiased. This can be of great value in times of trouble.
Think back to the Prorogation crisis of last year. Although I disagreed with the Governor General's decision, I respected it for the reasons noted above.
Also think back to the Second World War when Britian was all but defeated. Who did the populace look to before Winston Churchill came officially on the scene. It was the King, whom they rallied around and it was the King whom they were prepared to die for if necessary.
But it wasn't King George the VI - the man; but rather King George the VI the instituiton that rallied the populace.
We have been blessed for many years in having one of the great Monarchs on the Throne - Queen Elizabeth II. I do not suspect that Charles will be so well received but I do have great hope for his son William. But as I have attempted to show above, it really does not matter who occupies the Throne per se, it is the long tradition and history of this institution that makes it special and of value to us all.
Again, I am fearful for the future of the Monarchy here in Canada, but much more fearful of its replacement.
As I see it..
"Galagher"
