Canadian Senate Takes Another Hit

[-1=e^ipi]

That's not a good option in a federal state.

why? New Zealand has no senate.

[Smallc]

why? New Zealand has no senate.

New Zealand isn't a federal state.

[Guest]

Does regionalism matter? Why not elect the senate?

Edited July 15, 2016 by Guest

[Smallc]

Does regionalism matter?

Of course it does - that's the entire reason that we have a federation.

Why not elect the senate?

Because we already have a popularly elected house. I think there are better ways to name the house of balance.

[Guest]

Of course it does - that's the entire reason that we have a federation.

Because we already have a popularly elected house. I think there are better ways to name the house of balance.

I also think regionalism matters, though not everybody does. What do you mean by 'better ways to name the house of balance'?

[Bryan]

There's got to be a better way.

Conscripted Senate. If you get called, it's your civic duty to serve, unless you can prove it would cause a serious undue hardship.

[Smallc]

I also think regionalism matters, though not everybody does. What do you mean by 'better ways to name the house of balance'?

I don't want a regional house of commons in the style of the US Senate - I want a Senate that is somewhere between what we have and what they have. I think if we were to follow what they used to do, and allowed the provinces to select their own senators (an equal number for each) with similar powers to those that exist now, it would be useful.

[Smallc]

Conscripted Senate. If you get called, it's your civic duty to serve, unless you can prove it would cause a serious undue hardship.

I actually like that idea a lot.

[Smallc]

I would also like a formalized version of Trudeau's panel.

[Guest]

I don't want a regional house of commons in the style of the US Senate - I want a Senate that is somewhere between what we have and what they have. I think if we were to follow what they used to do, and allowed the provinces to select their own senators (an equal number for each) with similar powers to those that exist now, it would be useful.

How would the provinces select senators?

[Smallc]

How would the provinces select senators?

One idea would be to leave it up to each province. Another would be to have the provincial legislatures elect members to sever in the Senate, either from their own ranks, or from the general public. After that, terms could be established, either renewable, or not.

[Guest]

One idea would be to leave it up to each province. Another would be to have the provincial legislatures elect members to sever in the Senate, either from their own ranks, or from the general public. After that, terms could be established, either renewable, or not.

By leave it up to the provinces do you mean each province would elect senators?

[Smallc]

By leave it up to the provinces do you mean each province would elect senators?

One idea would be to allow each province their own method of selection. I personally like the idea of a unified method that doesn't involve direct elections of a second powerful house.

[Queenmandy85]

How does the Governor General appointing Senators take politicians out of the process?

The Crown is not political. Senators are supposed to be appointed by the Crown.

[Smallc]

The Crown is not political. Senators are supposed to be appointed by the Crown.

The Crown doesn't act outside of the advice of their ministers, except in extreme circumstances.

[Guest]

One idea would be to allow each province their own method of selection. I personally like the idea of a unified method that doesn't involve direct elections of a second powerful house.

I don't like the idea of some level of elected government appointing senators. I would much rather the people chose the house of sober second thought; even if senators receive longer posts.

[-1=e^ipi]

Maybe we should do away with the provinces. They just duplicate costs and make it difficult to coordinate economic, health, transportation, education and environmental policy.

[Smallc]

I don't like the idea of some level of elected government appointing senators. I would much rather the people chose the house of sober second thought; even if senators receive longer posts.

If the people select the second house, there's really no purpose to the second house, except to create a population v geography gridlock.

[-1=e^ipi]

I don't want a regional house of commons in the style of the US Senate - I want a Senate that is somewhere between what we have and what they have. I think if we were to follow what they used to do, and allowed the provinces to select their own senators (an equal number for each) with similar powers to those that exist now, it would be useful.

So if BC split into 2 provinces, it would get twice as much representation in the senate.

This creates an incentive for provinces to split into multiple provinces, which will cause less ability to coordinate policy and increased costs of government per capita.

[Smallc]

So if BC split into 2 provinces, it would get twice as much representation in the senate.

That isn't a realistic worry.

[-1=e^ipi]

I would also like a formalized version of Trudeau's panel.

Yes, rather than appoint political hacks that claim to be in your party, appoint your friends to appoint political hacks that will pretend to be 'independent'. Good way to trick voters.

If the people select the second house, there's really no purpose to the second house, except to create a population v geography gridlock.

Exactly... which is why abolition is the best option.

[-1=e^ipi]

That isn't a realistic worry.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-political-party-pushing-for-province-of-vancouver-island-1.3647482

[Bryan]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-political-party-pushing-for-province-of-vancouver-island-1.3647482

"Vexit"?

[Smallc]

Yes, rather than appoint political hacks that claim to be in your party, appoint your friends to appoint political hacks that will pretend to be 'independent'. Good way to trick voters.

I'm talking about a constitutional change that would remove the Prime Minister from the equation altogether.

[-1=e^ipi]

Oh wow that's even better!

First appoint your friends.

Then perform a constitutional change so that your friends can never be removed by future governments and that your friends get to appoint other friends when they retire.