A few Eees on senate reform...

Time is wasting on senate reform.

Word is Prime Minister Stephen Harper knows his idea of senate reform isn’t going to wash, so he is apparently letting things atrophy.

Harper wants an elected senate, based on eight-year fixed terms, with equitable representation. His minority government isn’t in any position to push that.

The Liberals control the current body, while the NDP doesn’t believe in it to start with. Things don’t look as though they are going to be too productive for some time.

In this country, the House of Commons covers local and national issues - and does so quite well from a strictly democratic and demographic point of view. More is needed.

Harper has appointed only two senators in his two years of government: Michael Fortier, because he needed Montreal representation in the cabinet, and elected Alberta Sen. Bert Brown. There are about a dozen more seats left vacant.

My take is the senate has to be regionally equitable and effective. Elected if necessary, but only if individual provinces see fit. One thing is sure: we don’t need another batch of arm-jacking politicians out pestering the electorate every so often.

The senate has to represent Canadians and regions in a way the House of Commons can’t. The body, if reformed, could be a good way to ensure the rural aspect of the country is reflected, and accomplished folks who won’t have a hope in hell of getting elected can be put to work in decision making. The provinces and large cities should have representation reflecting ethnicity, gender, business, labour and so on.

Would it be democratic?

Not strictly, but it would ensure minority rights – including rural – are protected.

No federal or provincial or big-city politicians should be appointed to the reformed senate. The aim should be new people, with new perspectives. Provinces should be able to appoint or elect, or mix and match, with terms of no more than 10 years.

The status quo isn’t acceptable, but neither is the NDP alternative or the prime minister’s additional elected body.