Lorne, Harper has appointed more senators than his predecessors in order to get Con. majority in the Senate. It was a political stunt, during the elections, when he promised to abolish the Senate.
In order to abolish the Senate requires constitutional change. "Most amendments can be passed only if identical resolutions are adopted by the House of Commons, the Senate, and a two-thirds majority of the provincial legislative assemblies representing at least 50% of the national population." It is not going to happen. Also Liberal are not so enthusiastic about abolishing the Senate.
The Senate, LeDaro, despite claims of the good work they do, is unquestionably forever tainted by the rampant partisanship of Harper and past prime ministers in their appointments. Unfortunately, because it is a repository of patronage, I agree with your assertion that it will never be abolished. It is too useful to too many 'leaders.'
It's unfortunate that we judge the Senate by the perverted entity of Harper's making. Every one of his many appointments was an act of contempt for the Senate.
When I began my legal career we had a way of selecting superior court judges that was laudable. An Ottawa U. law professor, Ed Ratushny, was given the summer job of travelling the country gathering up recommendations from provincial law societies, bar associations and the bench on ideal candidates for appointment. It was a tough sell because many of these people were senior litigators with fabulous practices from which they earned equally fabulous incomes. It took a lot of arm twisting and appeals to professional duty to get some of them to relent to appointment. At the end of the day we wound up with some truly excellent jurists.
The Senate, likewise, is intended to be a repository for the best and brightest in service to the country. Yes, patronage has always been an element but every Liberal and Progressive Conservative prime minister appointed senators across party lines. Only Harper deviated from that to turn it into a sty for his own. He deserves to be despised for that for it stands as a measure of his respect for the country and our institutions.
Well said, Mound. Your description of Ed Ratushny's summer task makes me very nostalgic and sad - nostalgic for a time when there was much honour associated with a life of public service through political institutions, and sad that Harper has debased them to such a degree.
Unfortunately, I think he has done irreparable damage, not just to the Senate, of course, but to the very concept of politicians serving, not contemning, the public. I am not optimistic about the prospects that either can be rehabilitated in the electorate's mind.
I'd like to think that the senate is not beyond rehabilitation, Lorne. If it's not then Harper has achieved another one of his burning ambitions. He reminds me of nothing so much as the wolverine that breaks into a trapper's cabin, eats its fill and then pisses on the rest on its way out. There's a dark undercurrent of malevolence to him, Lorne. He's truly deviant.
I really hope that you are right about Senate rehabilitation, Mound. It gives me no pleasure to make my cynical pronouncements. Your wolverine simile is most apt, as well.
Lorne, Harper has appointed more senators than his predecessors in order to get Con. majority in the Senate. It was a political stunt, during the elections, when he promised to abolish the Senate.
ReplyDeleteIn order to abolish the Senate requires constitutional change. "Most amendments can be passed only if identical resolutions are adopted by the House of Commons, the Senate, and a two-thirds majority of the provincial legislative assemblies representing at least 50% of the national population." It is not going to happen. Also Liberal are not so enthusiastic about abolishing the Senate.
The Senate, LeDaro, despite claims of the good work they do, is unquestionably forever tainted by the rampant partisanship of Harper and past prime ministers in their appointments. Unfortunately, because it is a repository of patronage, I agree with your assertion that it will never be abolished. It is too useful to too many 'leaders.'
DeleteIt's unfortunate that we judge the Senate by the perverted entity of Harper's making. Every one of his many appointments was an act of contempt for the Senate.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began my legal career we had a way of selecting superior court judges that was laudable. An Ottawa U. law professor, Ed Ratushny, was given the summer job of travelling the country gathering up recommendations from provincial law societies, bar associations and the bench on ideal candidates for appointment. It was a tough sell because many of these people were senior litigators with fabulous practices from which they earned equally fabulous incomes. It took a lot of arm twisting and appeals to professional duty to get some of them to relent to appointment. At the end of the day we wound up with some truly excellent jurists.
The Senate, likewise, is intended to be a repository for the best and brightest in service to the country. Yes, patronage has always been an element but every Liberal and Progressive Conservative prime minister appointed senators across party lines. Only Harper deviated from that to turn it into a sty for his own. He deserves to be despised for that for it stands as a measure of his respect for the country and our institutions.
Well said, Mound. Your description of Ed Ratushny's summer task makes me very nostalgic and sad - nostalgic for a time when there was much honour associated with a life of public service through political institutions, and sad that Harper has debased them to such a degree.
DeleteUnfortunately, I think he has done irreparable damage, not just to the Senate, of course, but to the very concept of politicians serving, not contemning, the public. I am not optimistic about the prospects that either can be rehabilitated in the electorate's mind.
I'd like to think that the senate is not beyond rehabilitation, Lorne. If it's not then Harper has achieved another one of his burning ambitions. He reminds me of nothing so much as the wolverine that breaks into a trapper's cabin, eats its fill and then pisses on the rest on its way out. There's a dark undercurrent of malevolence to him, Lorne. He's truly deviant.
ReplyDeleteI really hope that you are right about Senate rehabilitation, Mound. It gives me no pleasure to make my cynical pronouncements. Your wolverine simile is most apt, as well.
Delete