I love that word Reform

Yesterday, in a planted question in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister rose to chide the Liberal Senate again. Here is the quote from Hansard:

Mr. Speaker, I have to point out that in rejecting terms of less than 45 years, the Liberal Senate has not merely defied the government, it has defied its own leader here in the House. It has defied its former leader in the Senate and of course defied public opinion and all common sense. Liberal senators will not stop Senate reform. They will only ensure that they are not part of the reform that is coming, because reform is inevitable, because the public will not stomach any longer an institution that functions like that.

Now, I am not an expert, but the Prime Minister used the word "Reform" three times in this answer. Given his party's...history, you think they could have right clicked on it at least once?

That said, I have been a Senate Abolitionist since I first learned about what the Senate does. The only really useful thing that it has is the Senate Banking Committee, but the reason for its isolation has been rendered moot by changes to the contribution rules under the Elections Act.

Every once and a while, a Senator or Committee will issue a fantastic report. Yay.

Every once and a while, a Royal Commission will do the same thing, at a fraction of the cost. And with some element of focus - not the haphazard random precision with which Senators pick their topics.

If reform is the only answer, I like the idea of electing Senators. I also like the idea of appointing guenuine leaders in the community to a place of esteem.

Maybe we need Knights.

I don't take issue with any of the "reform" proposals put forward by the government. I just think it is a hornet's nest that no one wants or needs to get involved with unless they are going to make real changes. A few tweaks here or there that will still likely require provincial approval just appears to be a smokescreen.

Honestly, does anyone with a pulse really care about Senate reform? This 45 year term thing is overplayed and a brutal exageration. Only people who watch NASCAR don't understand that.

Besides, opening up the constitution has always done Prime Ministers very well in Quebec. On second thought, go nuts Steve. Reform away.