Should Canada adopt a US-style senate

[Gareth Edmunson]

Asher, I'm glad to see you've gotten through you're pro-Canadian phase. Way to go!

And also, I used to hate all of Canada for its overwhelming leftism, but now that I've learned more about Alberta, I must say thats quite a province. Keep it up over there!

Oh yeah, and the Canadian federal system is inherently undemocratic... any change should be welcome.

[markusf]

Originally posted by Gareth Edmunson
Asher, I'm glad to see you've gotten through you're pro-Canadian phase. Way to go!

And also, I used to hate all of Canada for its overwhelming leftism, but now that I've learned more about Alberta, I must say thats quite a province. Keep it up over there!

Oh yeah, and the Canadian federal system is inherently undemocratic... any change should be welcome.

What is it now, they are appointed for life by the PM? I remember a few years ago there was one of them who only showed up to work something like 5 days out of the year. What a joke.

[Seeker]

Wasn't there a Senator who never actually attended any meetings?

[Asher]

Originally posted by Gareth Edmunson
Asher, I'm glad to see you've gotten through you're pro-Canadian phase. Way to go!

What are you talking about?

What is it now, they are appointed for life by the PM? I remember a few years ago there was one of them who only showed up to work something like 5 days out of the year. What a joke.

That was because he was living in Mexico (seriously).

Then there's the problem like Alberta holding a referrendum saying "We want so-and-so to be our next senator, to replace one retiring". Despite this, Chretien appoints one of his liberal cronies to the position to represent Alberta instead of who we said we wanted.

[markusf]

now i know what my dream job is. Collect my 200 grand a year and live in mexico

[Asher]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
Iain is right about the outmoded and undemocratic nature of the senate now.

Hmm. I'm not sure you understand the need for that "outmoded" style of Senate in Canada.

Right now, in Canada, all government power effectively comes down to the majority party. Everyone else becomes moot. The majority party appoints the PM. They now control the "executive branch" as well as the only really functionaly legislative branch. The PM then appoints Senators (although the current Senate has basically zero power). Every time. This gives them an effective dictatorship. King Jean can pass a law, say, stripping all resource revenues from a province in order to make the rest of the country richer, even though a 1930 agreement stated it was owned by that province.

Canada needs something to keep the majority government in line. Considering that essentially Ontario and Quebec elect the entire federal government each time, those two provinces end up gaining far too much control over the rest of the country. They make up most of the population of the country, but that still doesn't give them the right to "have their way" with the smaller provinces. Right now, they can. It's precisely for this reason that the current federal government (Liberals) doesn't even feel the need to campaign in Alberta, for example. We're expendable to them. We're crazy lunatics with outrageous ideas, and they're not going to waste our time since we represent so few votes. That's also that NEP was inacted from 1980-85 to steal our resource revenue, how Chretien appointed someone completely different than who we voted for, etc.

[markusf]

Canada is a oligarchy, but its nowhere near as bad as the USA, you don't have to look much further then bush..

Western canada should band together and seperate!

[Gareth Edmunson]

Originally posted by Asher

What are you talking about?

Oh, I think you know what I'm talking about. Don't be coy.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Gareth Edmunson
Oh, I think you know what I'm talking about. Don't be coy.

I don't know where you've been, but I thought I was one of the most outspoken critics of Canada on the site...

[red_jon]

Canada should adopt a PR system, like everywhere else. It makes it easier for me to become emporer by Demoratic means

[Starchild]

We have a senate here? Wha..? When did this happen? Why haven't I heard about this...?

[Stefu]

If Europe unifies, I'd wish there was an US-style senate. Otherwise, we'll have the Europe of Big Three and screw the small nations.

Not electoral college, though. That's nothing but an abomination. Preferably we'd have lower house elected by proportional representation and upper house elected like U.S.Senate though with instant runoffs.

[Gareth Edmunson]

All I know is that I can't turn on the tv for half an hour without being bombarded with at least 30 "messages from the government of Canada".

[red_jon]

Originally posted by Stefu
If Europe unifies, I'd wish there was an US-style senate. Otherwise, we'll have the Europe of Big Three and screw the small nations.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Is there something wrong with that? We are your masters after all! Long live the Franco-Anglo-Germanic alliance!

[Stefu]

red_jon, I was just about to edit my message to say "Oh well, there's going to be some Brit posting something like "What's wrong with that?" here soon, thinking he's so funny."