[Canada] Canadian Politics Redux

[crazy canuck]

Viper, Saskatchewan has already proposed abolition. 

[viper37]

Viper, Saskatchewan has already proposed abolition. 

What I mean is legally, what does it take to modify the Constitution, procedures, step by step.
Can 7 provinces band together and say "we have a new proposal for a constitutional amendment, here it is, make it official" and the Federal gov is bound by it?  I don't think so, but you're the expert, so you tell me

[crazy canuck]

The constitution requires the agreement of both the Provinces and Federal Parliament (which ironically includes the Senate).  It does not matter who makes the proposal.  If all the provinces agreed to abolition it would be politically unwise for Parliament to also disagree.

[viper37]

The constitution requires the agreement of both the Provinces and Federal Parliament (which ironically includes the Senate).  It does not matter who makes the proposal.  If all the provinces agreed to abolition it would be politically unwise for Parliament to also disagree.

so the Feds are hoping the provinces will be fed up with the current situation and propose its abolition, rather than propose any reform.  It will likely be easier to wait for them to agree on abolition than hope to convince them of any kind of reform.

I don't like this.

[crazy canuck]

Imo abolition is the preferable option.

[Grey Fox]

No, the preferable option is a check on the legislation coming out of our elected assembly.

If the senate did it's job instead of being a country club of funneling tax payer money to friend of the party then this unwise talk of abolition would not be happening.

[crazy canuck]

By a chamber of political appointees or, worse yet, a second elected body like the US?  No thanks. 

[viper37]

Imo abolition is the preferable option.

just give the keys of the country to Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, that will cost less and achieve the same.

[viper37]

By a chamber of political appointees or, worse yet, a second elected body like the US?  No thanks. 

Elected, Efficient and Equal.
Canadians should stop being so afraid of democracy.  Why not abolish the Commons and let the Governor Genral rule while we're at it?

[crazy canuck]

Lol, who is the one afraid of democracy?  I think you may be forgetting why the Senate was created.

[Grey Fox]

An elected senate not based on population could be good. 5 per province?

[crazy canuck]

Why would it be good to give PEI with the population of a small town the same representation as Quebec.  The only possible reason would be to prevent the democratic will of the people.

[viper37]

Lol, who is the one afraid of democracy?  I think you may be forgetting why the Senate was created.

Same as house of Lords, to counter-balance the populist vote of the House of Commons.

It evolved into a representation of the provinces.  Wich is what we need, to protect less populous regions from the more populous ones.

[viper37]

Why would it be good to give PEI with the population of a small town the same representation as Quebec.  The only possible reason would be to prevent the democratic will of the people.

democracy is the tiranny of the majority.  Most occidental countries have regional representation, US & Germany among them, others too.

[Josephus]

I have mixed feelings. For sure the senate, as it is, is broken, has long ago lost the trust of the people.
But if we abolish it do we replace it with nothing? I don't know. Do we need a body to keep the government in check?
I think we need something in place.