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Isn't Canada a democratic country? Let me know if I understand it correctly: we have a bunch of old unelected senators (lords) who will never lose their job until reaching the age of 75, essentially doing nothing important and somehow we taxpayers are supposed to pay for their fat salary ($132k), benefits and all the extravagant expenses?
Don't tell me it is history/culture/UK tradition that kind BS. I don't care about any of those. We are the Repubic of Canada and not the United Kingdom. I care about the value of our taxpayers' money and how it is spent.
Enlighten me on this: why do we need the senate? (yeah, I know they do some ceremonial approval of bills just like the Queen, so spare me that part)
There is, I think, an argument that can be made in favour of a secondchamber to balance the house of commons. The concept of the senate is of representatives per region, rather than by population, so that all areas have an equal voice. The idea for long terms is so that senators outlast the political whims of the people and aren't simply rubber stamping the government's bills.
We've had a number of governments that have won a majority, but been virtually shut out of a region - the CPC in quebec, for example, or the Liberals in the west. We've also seen some of the silly stuff that's been passed in the house of commons. Given that, I can see the point of having a senate.
This isn't, of course, an endorsement of our senate. Our senate does its job very poorly at best. I'd like to see elected senators (or a proportionally elected senate) with long, but limited terms for senators.
There is, I think, an argument that can be made in favour of a secondchamber to balance the house of commons. The concept of the senate is of representatives per region, rather than by population, so that all areas have an equal voice. The idea for long terms is so that senators outlast the political whims of the people and aren't simply rubber stamping the government's bills.
We've had a number of governments that have won a majority, but been virtually shut out of a region - the CPC in quebec, for example, or the Liberals in the west. We've also seen some of the silly stuff that's been passed in the house of commons. Given that, I can see the point of having a senate.
This isn't, of course, an endorsement of our senate. Our senate does its job very poorly at best. I'd like to see elected senators (or a proportionally elected senate) with long, but limited terms for senators.
it is not about a senate not doing its job well. It is about we taxpayers support those lifetime senators for doing esssentially nothing important to this country.
While dysfunctional at times, the Senate is quite important.
In many cases, the Senate provides technical legislative expertise — this is an important part of the legislative process and leads to better public policy.
For example, Senate committees like the one on banking, trade and commerce, science and technology, etc. — have done a remarkable job of sparking a debate on key issues in those areas. The Banking sector in particular has benefited tremendously from this "improved legislation". The Senate has improved public policy and legislation in a way few House of Commons committees have in many years.
it is not about a senate not doing its job well. It is about we taxpayers support those lifetime senators for doing esssentially nothing important to this country.
Seriously, what is the senators' job description?
The whole Senate embarrasses me as a Canadian citizen. They are unelected cronies with questionable abilities to run this nation. Go on the website and read bios of who these people actually are...it's a joke! I can't believe they've gotten away with what they have for so long. I say reform the Senate to make it an elected body with actual power or shut it down.
While dysfunctional at times, the Senate is quite important.
In many cases, the Senate provides technical legislative expertise — this is an important part of the legislative process and leads to better public policy.
For example, Senate committees like the one on banking, trade and commerce, science and technology, etc. — have done a remarkable job of sparking a debate on key issues in those areas. The Banking sector in particular has benefited tremendously from this "improved legislation". The Senate has improved public policy and legislation in a way few House of Commons committees have in many years.
suppose they may come important occasionally, which I doubt, why shouldn't they be elected?
The idea of paying the fat salaries of unelected senators, who don't even have a term, bothers me. Doesn't it bother you?
Who oversee the quality of their work? Why can't they lose their job? it is very undemocratic to me.
suppose they may come important occasionally, which I doubt, why shouldn't they be elected?
The idea of paying the fat salaries of unelected senators, who don't even have a term, bothers me. Doesn't it bother you?
Who oversee the quality of their work? Why can't they lose their job? it is very undemocratic to me.
Well, many things about the Senate bother me .... but I wouldn't just eliminate them. Minus all the negative publicity the Senate receives, they play an increasingly important function in our increasingly dysfunctional Parliament.
Should the system be changed? Yes. I don't disagree with you here. Electing them would be a great idea. Eliminating them ... not so much.
And just because the Senators are appointed and not elected, does not make the entire parliamentary system un-democratic. Majority of parliamentary democracies have some arm of government that is appointed and not elected. Even in the US, the Supreme Court justices, that play a significant part in the governing process, and are an equal arm of government, are appointed and not elected.
- And they don't have a term.
- And they are VERY powerful!
Look around you and you will find many dysfunctional systems with common sense solutions. But remember, "Common sense is not so common".
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