Senate reform: In case you were wondering

Like many people, I had some questions today about the Senate-reform legislation unveiled by Minister Tim Uppal. Like other people (okay constitutional nerds) who have some questions about how this will work, I told the minister's office I would like to know more. And I was invited to submit my  questions via email. 

Anyway, thought you might like to see how this whole reporting/answering thing works in the bold new days of the stable Conservative majority government. Have a look -- but don't try this at home.

Here were my questions:

1. As in the national securities legislation, Quebec is saying it will challenge this bill in court. Unlike the national securities legislation, Ottawa hasn't sought its own Supreme Court of Canada reference. Why not? How will Ottawa reply to any court challenge?

2.  This bill retroactively changes the terms for appointees after Oct. 14, 2008. What is the significance of that date and why does the government believe that it can retroactively change terms for senators -- when that was NOT done when mandatory retirement  was introduced?

3. How quickly does the government expect this bill to become law? Will there be any talks with provinces?

And here are the answers replies I received, courtesy of the minister's office. 

Our Government received a strong mandate to reform the Senate.

That is why we are taking action to make the Senate more democratic, accountable and representative of Canadians.

Regarding term limits, we have specifically chosen terms that are long enough to maintain the essential characteristics of the Senate as a chamber of sober second thought, while still providing regular renewal in Senate membership.

Senators appointed after royal assent of the bill will be subject to nine-year non-renewable terms.

Senators appointed after October 14, 2008, will also have their terms limited to a non-renewable nine-years starting with the royal assent of this bill.

The retirement age of senators, regardless of when they were appointed, will remain at 75.

We look forward to working with the provinces in bringing about meaningful senate reform. We encourage all provinces to follow Alberta's lead and implement democratic processes to give Canadians greater say in the selection of their Senate nominees.

For additional background information, I will direct you to the backgrounder found here:

http://democraticreform.gc.ca/index.asp?lang=eng&page=news-comm&doc=news-comm/20110621

Comments

[cam]

hmmm. The usual Conservative trolls are kind of quiet. Kind of sobering to see what passes for communications with this government isn't it?

[Mark W]

So, I am presuming that you actually expected to receive a response TO your question... instead you receive the same canned response the rest of us get. Why do we expect more accountability from this government NOW?

This is a strong indication that the Conservative 'spin machine' has now become integrated with the government, and with the move to reduce audit positions there will be less and less actual information coming out into public view. I am expecting that in 3 years' time, we will be told that either 1) things are too sensitive for another election, or 2) Why rock the boat and have an election? Either way, the government would then declare the fixed date law invalid and proceed past Oct. 2015...

You may be thinking that I do not trust this government's word on things... and you would be correct.

[Cathy Payne]

The snub to us all to look to Alberta might have been relevant until Mr Harper himself slapped them in the face. Elected senators (the supposed gold standard) were made equal to losing Mp's who couldn't sell the Conservative way! Contempt to the Right, I'd say. Progressives already had the contempt personalities. It must be because these Conservatives have split from the ones running Alberta for forty years.

Do you know we are now advertised as America's energy security? Oil sands without designation of Province means when the oil spills happen in three states we all get blamed. American Conservatives Senators called Canada "parasite's". Why on earth we want to emulate THAT is beyond me. Senators used to be there for brains. Now they have to reject Evolution to be "qualified".

The Opposition whatever it will be will have to be more than just jingles. Hey America just proposed making pot smoking a state's issue. Stealing Canada's old model of harm reduction and actually letting the profits flow.