Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Views on Senate reform run gamut, legislature committee discovers
MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Vaughan Baird speaks at hearing Saturday.
SENATE reform is a lot like the weather -- everyone's got an opinion but no one can do anything about it.
That appeared to be the consensus as provincial hearings on the topic wrapped up Saturday afternoon.
The options offered by the 27 presenters at a legislature committee room were varied: While most favoured electing members to Canada's upper chamber, some favoured abolishing the institution, and at least one person believed appointments could continue.
"The people of Manitoba should have the right to elect their senator," Vaughan Baird told the legislative sub-committee Saturday afternoon. "Election (of senators) by the people is far better than appointment (by the Prime Minister)."
The seven-member legislative sub-committee has held meetings across the province since the end of January. Before the hearings came to Winnipeg, there was little public interest. At hearings earlier this week in Brandon, Dauphin and Russell, only a total of six people made presentations.
The committee is tasked with developing a position on how Manitoba should choose its senators, a task that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked all provincial governments to consider. The Doer government favours abolition of the Senate but is complying with Harper's request to develop a position on the issue.
Saturday's session was the final opportunity for members of the public to air their views to the committee, which must submit a report by June.
New Democrat MP Niki Ashton told the committee that the Senate should be abolished and wasn't prepared to offer any suggestions on how elections should be conducted.
Ashton said Canada's Senate reflects the political concerns of a long-gone era, adding the criteria that senators be at least 30 years of age and own $4,000 worth of personal property demonstrate that it has no place in society today.
"It's an institution that is outdated and an insult to most Canadians," Ashton said.
Sen. Sharon Carstairs said direct election of senators is likely unconstitutional and the provincial governments of Ontario and Quebec have already said they would challenge any attempt by Harper to change the Senate in that way.
Carstairs, who was appointed to the Senate by former Liberal PM Jean Chrétien in 1994 after serving as provincial Liberal leader in Manitoba, said the appointment of senators could be made more democratic if they were appointed by provincial legislatures.
Carstairs said she believes all parliamentarians should be elected but cautioned that electing senators will not solve any perceived problems with Canada's political system, adding that the role of senators needs to be clearly defined.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 22, 2009 A5
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