Posts Tagged ‘Senate’
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Friday, November 15th, 2019
In the past, tough topics around health care, mental-health challenges, legalization of cannabis, rural and urban poverty, constitutional reform, official-languages policy and the structure of foreign aid have been thoroughly, openly and constructively addressed by Senate committees… Every region of Canada is represented in the Senate, and its demographic and skills mix is representative of Canada as a whole.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, participation, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 14th, 2019
After a certain period of crime-free years, individuals with a prior conviction, regardless of what that conviction was, are no more likely to be convicted of another offence than the rest of the population. Continuing to allow criminal records to bar their access to employment, education, housing and other community involvement extends their punishment beyond the end of their sentence.
Tags: corrections, crime prevention, ideology, participation, Senate
Posted in Child & Family Policy Context | No Comments »
Thursday, October 31st, 2019
Having always, as a journalist, put reason, objectivity and moderation at the top of my professional values, I found it very difficult to work in an environment where partisan interests appeared to be foremost in so many minds… The chamber should also be more effective; there is simply too much time wasted on partisan and procedural bickering.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, participation, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Thursday, October 3rd, 2019
Scheer apparently prefers straight-up political patronage and says he’ll appoint Conservative senators “who would help implement a Conservative vision for Canada.” No sober second thought there. Just rubber-stamping and, no doubt, more of the embarrassing antics that long made the Senate one of the most reviled institutions in Canada.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Sunday, August 25th, 2019
A less-partisan, more independent Senate is the right direction for the further reform and modernization of the institution and for the broad public legitimacy that is required for the legislative body to play its role as a chamber of sober second thought. Senators may not be running for election every four years, but we are running for the Senate’s credibility and legitimacy each and every day that we serve in Parliament.
Tags: featured, ideology, participation, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019
Killing a government bill that was part of an election platform that elected a majority government, and which was passed in the House with multiparty support, is simply not in the Senate’s job description – not as long as Canada is a parliamentary democracy, premised on the British model, as specified in our very Constitution.
Tags: ideology, jurisdiction, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Sunday, December 16th, 2018
Senators have agreed on the fly to some accommodation of the growing ranks of independents, giving them some research funds and committee roles. But the leadership of the ISG has argued that their role must be explicitly spelled out and guaranteed in the Parliament of Canada Act. And, since the change would involve allocating financial resources, they say it can’t be initiated by the Senate, only by the government in the House of Commons… “It won’t come from within the Senate. The only way to complete it, to have it finished, is to amend the Parliament of Canada Act.”
Tags: featured, jurisdiction, participation, Senate
Posted in Governance Delivery System | No Comments »
Thursday, July 19th, 2018
David Croll pioneered the first study and report in Canada on UBI, then called a guaranteed annual income: Poverty in Canada – A report of the Special Senate Committee (1971)… which formed the basis for many subsequent studies and experiments. Its failure to be adopted was attributed to an economic downturn in the late 1970s and insufficient support by provincial governments.
Tags: budget, economy, ideology, poverty, Senate, standard of living
Posted in Social Security Policy Context | No Comments »
Friday, July 28th, 2017
… the primary purpose of our Senate is to offer its “sober second thought” on legislation, as a kind of counter balance to how legislation is created in the House of Commons, where partisanship is a necessary feature… new senators are not members of a political party and therefore do not take direction from a national party. The Senate’s political integrity is maintained and, arguably, enhanced with each new independent appointment.
Tags: featured, ideology, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
Friday, June 23rd, 2017
They sit as independents, and act like it. They and other like-minded senators have improved more than one piece of legislation by sending it back to the House with recommended revisions. Sometimes the House has accepted their recommendations, sometimes it hasn’t. In all cases, the Senate has deferred to the final will of the Commons, as it did, ultimately, with the budget… We should think of this new, improved Senate as a jury, another institution of our democracy…
Tags: budget, featured, ideology, participation, Senate
Posted in Governance Debates | No Comments »
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