Posted on 05/30/2006 2:31:24 PM PDT by anymouse
The federal Conservatives introduced legislation Tuesday to set fixed election dates.
The bill, was tabled in the House of Commons by Democratic Reform Minister Rob Nicholson.
The move follows an announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week that he would seek changes to election timing in Canada, arguing that such a move would keep leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar to their own political advantage.
Under the bill, the next elections would be held every four years. The next federal vote would come on Oct. 19, 2009. From there, elections would be held on the third Monday in October four years later.
Right now, the Prime Minister sets election dates within a five years of the last vote. That system allows governments to time elections to coincide with a rise in their party's popularity among voters.
However, even under the proposed changes, however, a minority government could still face the prospect of a vote earlier than that if opposition parties banded together to pull the trigger in a confidence vote in Parliament.
If a minority government falls in a confidence vote, the existing practices would kick in and a general election would be called. The subsequent election would be held in the third Monday in October four years from that date.
In introducing the legislation, the government also said — beyond levelling the playing field for all parties — the change would also improve both the transparency and predictability of the process.
“It is an important step in improving and modernizing Canada's democratic institutions and practices,” Mr. Nicholson said.
Liberal Leader Bill Graham said October was an acceptable month for an election, but added that Canadians should never be sent to the polls for arbitrary political reasons.
Elections, he said, should be called “because there's an issue of national crisis” and suggested opposition parties triggered the last vote — which saw the Liberals removed from office — at “the last minute when they were heading into the Christmas break.”
British Columbia, Ontario and Newfoundland-Labrador all now have fixed dates for provincial elections.
The Conservatives are brought forward legislation on Tuesday that would change the senate.
As reported in Tuesday's Globe and Mail, the changes will limit the amount of time senators can sit in the chamber. The proposed constitutional amendment would limit senators to an eight-year term.
The government says the amendment can be passed by Parliament and does not require provincial approval as most constitutional changes do.
Under the plan, current senators will still get to serve until age 75.
The last major reform to the Senate was in 1965 when Parliament changed the rules so that senators could only serve until age 75 rather than for life.
Mr. Harper has long said the Senate needed reforming to make it more effective and independent. Establishing a term limit is seen by many as leaving the door open for an elected Senate down the road.
Mr. Graham said the Liberals would like to see a more comprehensive approach and accused the Harper government of “tinkering at the edges.”
“I don't think you can do that without approaching it from a very holistic and comprehensive point of view,” he said.
During question period Mr. Graham asked “Why doesn't the legislation specifically preclude the prime minister from seeking an early election?”
“The government is clear, it will not be seeking an early election,” Mr. Harper responded. “Of course, at a time, at any time, parliament can defeat the government and provoke an early election if that's what the opposition irresponsibly chooses to do.” He then reiterated that the bill is based on similar legislation in Ontario and B.C.
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell and Alberta Premier Ralph Klein both said today that they would like to see an elected senate.
Mr. Campbell told reporters this morning in Gimli, Manitoba at the western premiers conference that he thinks people would like the senate to be more open and accountable.
“My first position is to abolish the senate,” Mr. Campbell said. Alternatively, he added, “electing a senator is better than a political appointment.”
Mr. Klein described the federal government's proposal to appoint senators for eight-year terms as a good start. “But elected senators is, in my mind, the way to go.”
The proposed constitutional amendment would limit senators to an eight-year term.
Sounds like the Canadian Conservatives are busy rolling back decades of a slide into liberalism.
There's also the need to reform Canada's Senate to make it a voice representing provincial interests. Limiting Senators terms ought to be seen as a step in that direction.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Too bad our legislative branch doesn't have term limits. Might be a little less corruption.
HELL YES!
Term Limits and no lobbyism and/or gifts.
There should be no such thing as a lifetime politician.
"Under the plan, current senators will still get to serve until age 75."
Knock 10 years off that... most are so out of touch with what is going on after 55...
This will be a decided departure from one of the most cherished the traditions of a Westminster system - that the government calls for elections at its pleasure, albeit at a maximal window. Not a bad thing really - I believe under a constant election date system regime changes will be more frequent.
Everyday Canada is looking like a viable option should Hillary and Company take over this country.
They have been trying to do it here but without success. I think it probably is a good thing.
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