Thoughts on the Senate

The only solution to the Senate is to let it die through attrition.  I wrote a letter to The Herald last week and wondered why it had not been published 'cause I thought it was a pretty good letter and offered a new take on what to do with the mess.  "Oh well, didn't get published," I said.  Except that it did.  Today my letter was printed (as usual, can't find it online, so here it is as submitted):

"Dear Editor,

I know everyone wants the Senate to “poof”, but here’s a bulletin:  can’t be done without opening up the Canadian constitution to...who knows what?  Not gonna happen.  You can’t just have a vote or wave a magic wand.  The only way the Senate will disappear is if prime ministers stop appointing senators.  Eventually, after 30 years or so, attrition will take care of it.  They will either die off or retire, leaving the chamber empty – just another quaint stop on a tour of Parliament Hill."

 

        - Calgary Herald, November 1, 2013

 

The Conservative convention has begun today here in Calgary.  Maybe the letters' editor was holding mine back so more Conservatives might read it?  Don't know, but attrition is one solution no one has proposed.  Have to give credit to my husband, the constitutional expert, for this painless idea. 

 

Thanks "B".