The latest salvo came from the outgoing head of the right-leaning Canada West Foundation, who questioned whether the reforms would hinder the cause of regional representation — one argument for Senate reform from Western Canada.
Democratic Reform Minister Tim Uppal was clear about where the government stood on the proposed reforms: the Conservatives wouldn't have proposed any changes if the government wasn't willing to follow through on it.
"In terms of democratic reform, we in the government are very committed to it," Uppal said in an interview. "It's the right thing to do."
Senate reform is just one of two democratic reform bills Uppal has before the Commons. The other would put caps on campaign loans and prohibit unions and corporations from lending cash to parties, associations or candidates.
The two bills have not been debated in the Commons for months — the Senate reform bill since late February, the campaign loan bill since early December 2011.
Uppal wouldn't say when the proposals will become a reality, or when they will receive greater scrutiny. Even after the legislation makes its way through the Commons and Senate, change will not happen quickly, Uppal said.
"The changes in the Senate will not happen overnight," Uppal said "It will all be done in increments and at different times."
The concept of the triple-E Senate — elected, equal and effective — was an ideological pillar in the political culture of Western Canada — but that was before the Conservatives, with a strong base of western support, came to power in 2006 and earned a majority government last year.
"Reform is less needed today for regional representation than it was in the past, but is still badly needed to strengthen democratic government in Canada," Roger Gibbons, the outgoing president of the Canada West Foundation, wrote in an op-ed on the foundation's website.
Gibbons wrote that while the foundation was a major proponent of Senate reform, he wasn't sure the reforms the government is pushing make up the right model for the right time.
"It would be a mistake to assume that clinging to reform models first put together in the early 1980s will serve the long-term interests of western Canadians or Canadians at large."
The Senate Reform Act would create a voluntary framework for provinces to hold elections for Senate appointments. Nominees would then be presented to the prime minister who would still make appointments to the Senate — appointments that would be subject to a nine-year term limit.
The proposals don't require any changes to the Constitution, which would require the consent of seven provinces.
"Currently, we don't see that agreement. We're not interested in getting drawn into long constitutional battles with the provinces," Uppal said.
The argument isn't sticking in Quebec. The province is taking the federal government to court, arguing the changes amount to unilateral amendments to the Constitution.
"You can't unilaterally change the nature of the Senate without the consent of the provinces," said interim Liberal leader Bob Rae. "This does not have the consent of the provinces."
The NDP also won't give its consent to the plan. The New Democrats have long called for the Senate to be abolished, a position that didn't change Monday.
"Never mind triple E, this is a triple-U Senate — unelected, unaccountable, undemocratic and an expensive waste of $90 million a year," said NDP MP Pat Martin.
"The Conservatives got rid of the penny, but left in place an even more outdated and obsolete Canadian institution. It is not a help, it is a hindrance to democracy. It is beyond repair, it is beyond reform and it should be abolished."
Original Article
Source: ottawa citizen
Author: Jordan Press
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