Harper would like Senate elections in next vote

[Canuck55]

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper would like to see Canadians in a position to start electing their senators by the time of the next federal election.

Harper announced plans Tuesday to impose eight-year term limits on new senators, part of new democratic reforms."

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"Nobody believes senators should be sitting for decades or anyone in a modern 21st Century legislature should be sitting for decades," Harper said.

Currently, senators can sit until age 75, although until 1965, their appointments were for life."

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http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060530/senate_announcement_0605230/20060530?hub=TopStories

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My understanding has always been that our Senate was the big brother that either endorsed or didn't endorse what the House passed, yet i've never heard of anything they've ever stepped in on, ever, that actually changed anything out of HP. I remember when term limits were even first proposed i supported it, i hoped it might spur them to actually do something, hell anything, except collect a salary and show up once in awhile. Senate appointments have always reeked of golden parachute cronyism, i don't agree with Steve-O on much of anything, but i agree with the reasoning behind this.

[MrPrax]

1. I got no complaint...

It's an anrachronism in it's present form at best, and simply an elite retirement farm for bagmen...They should limit them...

The cons of course is that if Senate positions 'turn over' faster, then there will be a lot more manuveuring for the appointments, as politicians and their hangers-on will pursue 'personal' campaigns for those appointments.

That would necessitate that the 'jobs' be elected and I am not sure about that as it would open up a lot of other issues of a Constitutional nature.

For instance, the Senate doesn't have a lot of power, but it might insist on more clout if it is elected and in all fairness, if Senators are elected as well as MPs, then why wouldn't power devolve. Both 'houses' have the same legitimacy via the same voting public, so it's a bit of a problem...

But yeah...limit them I suppose or scrap it altogether... it's worthless as it is and too dangerous as a regional forum to add to the mix with enhanced powers undering the existing federalism.

[CHIMO]

2. Friends of

[HuffleClaw]

3. harper needs to simply change his citizenship to the USA

hell, he'd be obviously happier there. this clown wants to change our entire parliamentary system? what a crock.

[dufrenne]

4. I got

no problem with the senate proposal or the fixed election. These aren't just American concepts but the way it's done in many countries. Hell, BC and Ontario ushered in fixed election dates. As for the senate....what? you support life time appoinments? How about aboloshing it or having triple-E...I'd support either of those...