Senator Elaine McCoy has a piece (pdf) in the latest Hill Times that presents a thoughtful and cogent argument for a Senate comprised primarily of independent (i.e. nonpartisan) Senators. The thrust of her argument is that, far from being simply a brake on a democracy that was particularly feared in the 19th century, it is a preventive measure against what John Stuart Mill famously called the 'tyranny of the majority'.
Canadians tend to view the Senate as an old boys club and/or a sort of pig heaven where old pols go to their just reward. Few recognize the volume and quality particularly of the committee work that comes out of the Senate. McCoy's argument, one that I agree strongly with, is that independence from partisan discipline can only enhance this work.
This, of course, flies in the face of her own party's plans to politicize the Senate through the appointment process and increased party identification and discipline. Our Senate serves us well, and though it could be made better, it will likely be made so by turning it into a replica of the Commons.
No comments:
Post a Comment