Fixed Election Dates Bring Fair and Accountable Democracy

May 31, 2006

Constituents familiar with my political career understand how important reform of Canada’s democratic process and institutions has always been to me. So you’ll also understand my excitement this week when our Conservative government introduced bills designed to set fixed election dates and limit the terms of Senators.

Currently, it’s up to the Prime Minster, so long as he or she holds a majority government, to decide when a federal election will take place. The need to transfer this authority was never more clearly demonstrated than when the former Liberal government had nearly 13 years to manipulate the timing of elections.

In 1997, Jean Chrétien sent Canadians back to the polls early despite the flood crisis in Manitoba.

In 2000, for the second time, he called another early election to take advantage of favourable polls.

Three-and-a-half years after that, in 2004, Paul Martin called another early election when Parliament began to unearth the Liberals’ dirty laundry in its inquiry into the sponsorship scandal.

This abuse of power, which forced Canadians to the polls frequently at the whim of a Liberal majority, is an unfortunate yet perfect example of why Canada needs fixed election dates.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed during the election campaign to end this manipulation of election dates. Therefore, Conservative legislation introduced Tuesday proposes the next general election be held October 19, 2009, unless the current government loses the confidence of the House before then.

Should that happen, the next election (and others following majority election wins) would be held on the third Monday in October in the fourth calendar year following the election arising from the fall of a minority government.

In British Columbia, we already enjoy the certainty of fixed election dates. Our next provincial election will be held May 12th, 2009, and the second Tuesday of May every four years after that (unless there is a minority).

In another measure to modernize our democratic institutions, the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Marjory LeBreton, introduced legislation to limit Senate terms to eight years. Currently, senators can sit until the age of 75.

Our government remains committed to working with the provinces to formulate a senate selection process that doesn’t require a constitutional amendment, but would ensure senators are selected democratically. However, these negotiations will take time. Plus, given the Liberals’ dislike for changes to the way they’ve done business for so many years, we’ll also need a majority. Fixed senate terms are an attainable interim measure in the current minority Parliament that will enhance the legitimacy and work of the Senate.

And lest we be accused of trying to oust the Liberal majority in the Senate and replace them with Conservatives, the fixed terms will apply only to new Senate appointees.

Overall, these measures in no way serve the partisan interests of the Conservative Party of Canada or any other political party. Our government introduced these reforms to serve the best interests of Canadians and their democratic institutions.

Then again, always trying to represent the best interests of my constituents has been my focus for nearly 13 years as your MP.

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