The two most prominent options under consideration include an elected or an abolished Senate. While both are certainly different than the current institution, neither option fundamentally improves Canada’s democracy. In fact, both options risk entrenching a status quo that excludes many from the political decision-making process.
Historically, and, to a large extent, even today, the demographics that make up the House of Commons and the Senate fail to mirror the diversity of Canada’s population.
While their decisions have profound and long-lasting impacts on the lives of all Canadians, many continue to be excluded from that process.
For example, while aboriginal peoples have innumerable generations of knowledge and legitimacy living on this land, they continue to be virtually shut out of government. Aboriginal peoples make up more than 1.4 million people, yet only six MPs and six Senators identify themselves as aboriginal. Regretfully, we celebrate this as a record high number, even as aboriginal communities are further marginalized within constituencies. Under our current system, we have seen the negative consequences of the Indian Act and the Residential School program as well as paternalistic policies of an “elitist knows best” system of government.
Any talk of Senate reform, therefore, should include measures to include Canada’s aboriginal peoples into the process, enshrine real nation-to-nation consultation, and incorporate aboriginal experiences into policy making. It is hard to imagine these policies coming to pass had aboriginal peoples been given a say.
Similarly, women are under-represented both in Parliament and in Cabinet, which has had negative implications. Today, women continue to earn 71 cents for every dollar a man makes for equal work. Men in Parliament continue to pursue legislation affecting a woman’s body as it relates to abortion. More women need to be at the table to participate in these discussions and talk of Senate reform should work towards addressing this gender imbalance.
The truth is that the policies entrenching inequality in our society do not happen by accident. Rather, they are the result of a system that consistently places segments of its population outside the decision making process. In other words, the problems we face as Canadians, collectively and individually, are impacted by the way we make public policy and by who is allowed to make it.
Democracy works best when the diverse voices of its people can be heard, when those impacted by public policy have a seat at the table in order to contribute their unique points of view, their experiences, their history, and their knowledge.
As Canadians, as a democracy, we can do better by reflecting a wider spectrum of diversity. The fact that Senate reform is top of mind is a good thing. We’ve taken the first step by putting the issue front and centre. Now we need to be more creative about reform.
For example, just imagine the impact of a chamber of sober second thought representing cultural, racial, and gender diversity tasked with real public consultation.
Or imagine not a Senate as we know it, but a body of aboriginal representatives where Canada’s third founding peoples are finally brought into government, making good on Canada’s treaty commitments of consultation. Finally, imagine a Senate made up of ad hoc working groups where policies are vetted by those most impacted by them.
The point is this: as we think about reforming the Upper Chamber, we need to understand that our options are limitless and we must be ready to engage more ideas if we are to tackle the real problem of under-representation. Both an elected and an abolished Senate reflect the status quo. We need to move beyond these options.
Should the government decide to pursue change, the path to reform will certainly be long and difficult. We must ensure that after all the battles are fought and won that we don’t end up with more of the same.
Original Article
Source: hilltimes.com
Author: DEREK ANTOINE
No comments:
Post a Comment