moiraj @ 2013-11-12T17:49:00

I am totally freaking out. Our federal government wants to change the entire nature of the senate, all by themselves, with a snap of their fingers. Go to hell, Harper. How dare you think you can completely re-arrange how our entire country works without it being part of an election, without the support of the provinces?

Our founders deliberately chose to have the senators appointed, not elected. I'm not the sort of person who thinks we shouldn't move from decisions made over 140 years ago, and definitely there needs to be change, but they're supposed to be there for the long hall. Ideally, the elected politicians reflect what people want right now, while the senators take a longer view. Check and balance.

Harper is claiming that the senate failed to achieve the independence that was expected by the found fathers. If Harper's ever read a history book, I'll eat my shoes.

And hey, Harper, that recent bill that was gutted in the senate, shot down by a majority including thirteen of the senators you appointed? You mean that lack of independence?

And if they are to be elected, why should their terms be limited when every other elected politician in Canada can be re-elected until they quit or drop dead?

The question about whether Ottawa can do this unilaterally is before the courts right now, and I've lost all faith in judges.

I don't know what to do with myself.