Elected Senate -- A Proposal
Constituent representation is good, but some structure is required
to look out for the whole country.
The 2004 election highlighted two key, systematic factors. One is
an elected Senate and the other is a House of Commons elected by
proportional representation. The latter would provide equitable
representation to the 80 percent of the population living in urban
centers, mostly close to the United States (US) border. But 80
percent of the geography of Canada would belong to aboriginals and
exploiters. Our colonial form of government worked well for the
Klondike gold rush over a century ago, but times have changed
and
the US solved the proportional geography problem more than two
centuries ago. This might also be a question of our survival.
National Unity
The separatist wave has gone by, the Bloc notwithstanding. We must
get ready for the next wave. To begin with, no US Congress can be
expected to put up with a separate state, underwrite the Canadian
dollar, or give up check points across the middle of the continent.
The next wave includes increased mobility, NAFTA, globalization and
"new-world-order". Incremental absorption by the US, effectively as
colonies, is the problem.
We have been here before. Even the CBC series on Canada's history
alludes to the effects and aftermath of the US Civil War!
Fortunately for us, all that American power turned west to beat up
on Mexicans and Indians at that time. The current wave has
different dimensions. My point is that Canada's politicians got
nervous in 1864, the civil war ended in 1865, and Confederation was
1867. Speed is both possible and urgent.
A status quo in structural relationships among Canadians can hasten
our demise as a country. The House of Commons represents the
population, the appointed Senate represents patronage, the
Provinces are uneven historical accidents, and the vast hinterlands
are effectively colonies -- like all of Canada is becoming to the
United States.
We have a Senate. Let's fix it, and the hinterlands. A short
"window of opportunity" to better represent Canadian geography, in
a US Senate model, appears to exist.
Proposed New Canadian Senate
About 40 fixed-area Senate Electoral Regions are required.
Physiographic similarities (i.e., combinations of landscapes) would
be important. Populations move. The Regions might range roughly
from the size of North Dakota in the south to that of the High
Arctic above the Parry Channel in the north. The country
subdivision selection problem might be sent to schools and posted
on the Internet to get citizens involved. They would certainly
learn about the size and geography of Canada! Some suggested
qualifications for Senate candidates are as follows:
-
two members for each region (perhaps one male and one female, to
be fair);
-
over 40 years of age (for life experiences, whether sober or
not);
-
every Member of the House of Commons should have a vote in every
Senate Region (in effect, modified free-vote appointments for low
population regions);
-
each Senator should have a first or second residence in his/her
Region;
-
each Senator should be elected for a fixed term (i.e., 4, 5, or
6 years); and,
-
otherwise, present Senate powers and responsibilities would
continue with little modification -- except perhaps in fairness and
effectiveness for regional representation.
Appointments
The Governor General should still be appointed. This has been a
success as viewed from the diversity of backgrounds represented in
such a ceremonial position. In addition, 80 elected Senators might
leave room for 20 appointments of special expertise. But these are
details.
Effect
Let's face it, we're becoming Americans. The process could continue
incrementally as now, or be quite sudden in a calamity. After all,
we abandoned our sovereignty during World War II. In the event of a
take-over (i.e., in a global emergency), the popular "51st State"
nonsense just might be implemented in the heat of panic. This is
all the more
likely if we do not have a compatible government structure. The
establishment of States
and Territories would be more fair if we had existing Senatorial
Electoral Regions on a US Senate model. There should not be any
confusion about Canada becoming one to ten States.
This might even be called a form of "Civil Defence" -- for our
culture and history -- for
probable, future and unexpected convulsions on the world scene.
That's world history!
Consequences
Meanwhile, the Senate would become effective regional
representation. It would also become much more significant for
issues affecting the whole country. The fate of the unequal
historical accidents called Provinces would have to be resolved by
the respective voters and taxpayers (and Constitutional
re-write).
In addition, a regionally elected Senate might also be a vehicle
for representing municipal and aboriginal interests -- particularly
with proportional representation in the House of Commons. If so,
there could be enormous reductions in overhead, bickering and
duplications -- and thereby taxes.
Global changes and the June 2004 election indicate that we require
a new Senate, with a permanent geographic base in a new
Constitutional framework, to survive.