I think the government came up shy on this. It's a good start but I think the majority of Canadians want to see the Senate abolished all together. It is a giant waste of taxpayer money and just another leg of government overseeing legislation that has already passed by our elected parliament. Mr. Harper, make good on your promise of abolishment! The term abolishement from the free online dictionary has a great ending in my view!
a·bol·ished, a·bol·ish·ing, a·bol·ish·es
1. To do away with; annul.
2. To destroy completely.
[Middle English abolisshen, from Old French abolir, aboliss-, from Latin abolre; see al in Indo-European roots.]
a·bolish·a·ble adj.
a·bolish·er n.
a·bolish·ment n.
Synonyms: abolish, exterminate, extinguish, extirpate, eradicate, obliterate
These verbs mean to get rid of: voted to abolish the tax; exterminated the cockroaches in the house;
These verbs mean to get rid of: voted to abolish the tax; exterminated the cockroaches in the house;
Government tables Senate reform bill
Governor General David Johnston delivers the Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Friday June 3, 2011. (Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Tuesday Jun. 21, 2011 11:25 AM ET
The government has introduced Senate reform legislation, making good on one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's long-time political promises.
The Senate Reform Act, which sets out a nine-year term limit for Senators as well as a means for voters to have a say in their appointment, was tabled in the House of Commons Tuesday morning.
"After receiving a strong mandate from Canadians, our Government is taking action on our commitment to make the Senate more democratic, accountable, and representative of Canadians," Minister of State (Democratic Reform) Tim Uppal said in a statement released Tuesday.
Under the terms of the proposed legislation, the single, nine-year term limit will apply to all Senators appointed after the October 2008 election. The nine-year countdown will only start when the law takes effect.
The current rules stipulate that Senators, appointed exclusively on the advice of the prime minister, can serve from the age of 30 until they are 75 years old.
That 75-year age limit will remain in place, and any Senators whose term is interrupted can be recalled to serve in the Senate again for whatever balance of their total nine-year term remains.
The legislation tabled Tuesday will not change the appointment process, but does aim to institutionalize the Conservative Government's existing policy of encouraging provinces and territories to seek voter input on potential additions to the upper chamber.
It would not force the provinces to implement a democratic process, however, opting instead to "strongly encourage them to do so."
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