What American's Ought to Know About Canada, But Don't

[Uncle Sparky]

... and I live there, and have for over 30 years. So hose off, eh ?

[joncha]

I'm not sure I'm up for it now, but Krazyhorse and NYE managed to extend their pissing contest for a good 6 or 7 pages... surely we can do better than four posts?

[Uncle Sparky]

I'm tired boot I'm not aboot to give in too yoooooooou !

[joncha]

beauty

[Uncle Sparky]

**sniff**

You've posted mom & dad's wedding picture....

... we still had "stubbies" then ...

**sniff**

I'm going to cry myself to sleep now...

[Ned]

Originally posted by notyoueither


I'm fine with Parliament having the power. That is in fact what I am arguing for. I want backbench MPs to have a stronger voice in the governing of our country. That is the way it works in the model that we copied (Westminster).

Well it sure seemed to me that your were concerned by the almost dictatorial powers of your PM. This was a central concern as well of our founding fathers and one of the reasons we split the legislative and executive functions so they were independent of one another.

BTW, as to your Senate. Would it be possible to make its composition the governors of the various provinces (I presume you have directly elected governors at least) and require its consent to legislation?

[Tingkai]

No, we do not have directly elected "governors".

The parliamentary system works quite fine thank you. Concerns about the PM having "dictatorial power" are unfounded. There are checks and balances, but they are sometimes to subtle for some people too see.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by joncha
Not really. The only map I could dig up is centred on the US, but the linguistic areas continue across the border (you can see how the general contours will go). The "upper midwest" dialect on the map is where you'll hear it most strongly as "aboot." You may be referring to differences within that area, but that's not what most people outside of the area pick up on.

There's something seriously wrong with that map. Northern Virginia is not part of the "Lower South"

[Starchild]

The Canadians being polite yet unfriendly is a trait inherited from the British, were we can be painfully nice to you while stepping over your bleeding corpse.

[JimmyCracksCorn]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker


There's something seriously wrong with that map. Northern Virginia is not part of the "Lower South"

To a Northerner you are. Even alot of DC has a southern feel to it. And culturally its definately not something that resembles Tennessee or Arkansas.

Face it, you're in the South.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Uncle Sparky
Absolutely wrong. The movie "Fargo" caricatured the "new Norwegian" accent you'll find in a few communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. You will not find it in Manitoba, Northern Ontario or for that matter Fargo, ND.

I have a friend from Fargo, so I will have to disagree.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Ned
Well it sure seemed to me that your were concerned by the almost dictatorial powers of your PM.

His concern was the party leader's dictatorial power within the party.

[Asher]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
His concern was the party leader's dictatorial power within the party.

And when that party forms the majority, the dictatorial power becomes over the entire country.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Tingkai
No, we do not have directly elected "governors".

The parliamentary system works quite fine thank you. Concerns about the PM having "dictatorial power" are unfounded. There are checks and balances, but they are sometimes to subtle for some people too see.

Oh. Well I guess this guy is too inexperienced to see where those checks are. Maybe you should drop him a line and show him where he's gone wrong on the topic.

http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/10/21/martin_021021

Martin urges parliamentary reform, end to 'democratic deficit'
Last Updated Tue, 22 Oct 2002 7:57:17
TORONTO - Individual MPs need more power and freedom in the House of Commons, says Liberal MP Paul Martin.


Paul Martin

In his first major policy speech as a Liberal leadership contender, Martin said Canada's lawmakers are hampered by a system where power is centralized and where MPs must toe the party line.

He said reforming the House of Commons will help to buck this trend towards a "democratic deficit."

"Unfortunately, the authority of individual Members of Parliament has been allowed to erode, while power of the executive...grows," Martin said in a speech Monday at York University's Osgoode Hall law school.

"It's who do you know in the PMO...We must move to address this democratic deficit."

He outlined a series of proposed changes which include:

Allowing politicians to vote as they choose – not merely vote the party line – as long as the vote doesn't bring down the government
Introducing an independent ethics commissioner
Having more independent parliamentary committees
Renewing the system for private members' bills
The former finance minister left cabinet in June after Prime Minister Jean Chrétien banned cabinet members from actively campaigning for the PM post.
Since then, Martin has made numerous public appearances and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars.



Written by CBC News Online staff

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Ned
Well it sure seemed to me that your were concerned by the almost dictatorial powers of your PM. This was a central concern as well of our founding fathers and one of the reasons we split the legislative and executive functions so they were independent of one another.

BTW, as to your Senate. Would it be possible to make its composition the governors of the various provinces (I presume you have directly elected governors at least) and require its consent to legislation?

You are on the right track now, however the PM being in the Commons should not be an issue the way parliaments are supposed to work. For how they are supposed to work we should be looking to Westminster. There it is not a problem for MPs to depose a 'bad' leader (as they did to Thatcher when she went too far) and party discipline is much weaker than it is in Ottawa (and most of the provinces I should think).

I would be interested in knowing if any of the Federalist Papers contain a direct criticism of the parliamentary system. Do you know of any?

re the Senate. As constituted any bill has to pass the Senate in order for it to become law, it's just that they are unelected so most of them do not feel proper in blocking the will of the Commons, usually. They do get involved on commitees, by giving advice for amendments and are involved in the process by the various readings as a bill winds its way towards Royal Assent.

There is a growing movement to change the manner of Senate appointments. Alberta has been agitating along those lines for 20 years. Our first elected Senator entered the Senate in the 80's (Stan Waters). None have followed since.

Lately some of the premiers of other provinces have begun to mumble about Senate appointments as well (New Brunswick and Quebec, IIRC). They argue that the appointments should be in their hands, and not those of the PM. I'm not sure if they are in favour of elections though.

As Tingkai said, we do not have directly elected governors. Each province has a legislature following the parliamentary system, with the premier being leader of the governing party in the leg. I think all of them are unicameral (no Senate).