"Senate Will Remain Democratically Deficient"

July 9, 2003

It’s ironic that Jean Chrétien, who continues to reject Senate reform, is directly responsible for a renewed enthusiasm across the country in recent weeks to establish an equal, effective and elected Senate.  His flurry of last minute patronage appointments as he wraps up his democratically deficient decade as PM, has served to starkly remind Canadians why this country needs a democratically-elected upper chamber.  

In his arsenal of rewards for his loyal and faithful political cronies, Mr. Chrétien possesses the power to bestow $114,000-per-year Senate seats for “good” Liberals to enjoy until the age of 75.  And so, for dedicating his entire professional career to the inner-workings of the Liberal party, Percy Downe, Mr. Chrétien’s own chief of staff, has been rewarded with thirty-odd years of Senatorial pay.  The Prime Minister thoughtfully sent along a friend to help Mr. Downe ease into his new role.  Paul Massicotte, an accomplished Montreal fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada, will also take a seat in the red chamber. 

Their appointments are just the beginning.  Five Senate seats remain open and Mr. Chrétien isn’t slated to officially retire until February.  There are other plum patronage posts he will use to show his gratitude to loyal followers, but the Senate of Canada is a legislative body.  Its members are permitted to propose, amend and pass laws on behalf of the citizens of Canada.  Mr. Downe and Mr. Massicotte will possess this critical authority solely due to their Liberal credentials.  

Unfortunately, this abuse of our democratic and parliamentary institutions will continue under Liberal leadership race frontrunner Paul Martin.  In his failed bid for the Liberal leadership in 1990, Mr. Martin stated his support for an elected and equal Senate.  Yet obviously having learned from his mistake, in his current bid for the leadership Mr. Martin now says he’s unwilling to tackle Senate reform because “it involves huge constitutional change.” 

This is blatantly untrue as even Brian Mulroney can attest.  He ensured Stan Waters took his rightful seat in the Senate after he had been elected for that job by Albertans.  Mr. Martin will have a similar opportunity as PM.  In 1998, 333,000 Albertans voted to send Bert Brown to represent them in the Senate.  Ted Morton captured 275,000 votes.  (As an interesting side note, all 26 Liberal candidates combined only received 263,000 votes in Alberta in the last federal election.) 

Even if Mr. Chrétien fills the one current Alberta vacancy in the Senate, two more Alberta seats are set to open up in February and June of next year due to retirements.  If Mr. Martin is truly sincere about democratic reform, he will ensure that Mr. Brown and Mr. Morton take their seats in the red chamber.

I'm not counting on it.  While an elected Senate remains a bedrock principle of the Canadian Alliance, Paul Martin didn't rise to popularity by rejecting the Liberal Party's tradition of using the dream of a Senate seat to entice political cooperation  and support.  And once he's leader, he will find it's an essential tool in controlling rebellion and ensuring obedience in the Liberal ranks.