Premier Wynne has decided to formally oppose the fast-track plan of the Harper government for abolition of the Senate. The province filed papers with the Supreme Court of Canada this week arguing against the streamlined formula. In the past, the Premier has offered up the notion of the Senate as a body of “sober second thought”. Federal Democracy Minister Pierre Polliviere will appear before the high court justices to argue that Ottawa has the power to shut down the un-elected body using the “7/50 Rule”. That is, the House of Commons would be able to abolish the Senate with the support of any seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the population. The Bulldog believes the “second thought” argument offered by the Premier does not hold water. It is not true and is an insult to Canadians who govern themselves in cities and provinces without an un-elected ornamental gallery of party hacks burning up millions of dollars. With respect to the Premier, she would be hard put to cite a single example of jurisdictions that eliminated their upper chambers and had any regret. Nova Scotia, New Zealand, Sweden — they’re doing fine, thanks. How about Ontario? We haven’t heard any nostalgia for the “Executive Council”, abolished in 1838 after the people of Ontario rebelled. The Senate is and always has been simply a device for lubricating the machinery of the party in power. Who on earth is the Premier listening to?
