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“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

’20 for 2020’ ... those wishing to lead government in the BC legislature, should insist on there being a Tripe “E” Senate

The Canadian Senate

Today is a change of plans from what I had intended on day number eighteen of ’20 for 2020’, and it was inspired after a post which I wrote yesterday regarding, regarding the BC Green Party still receiving extra government funds, after the leave taking of former leader Andrew Weaver.

The post was picked up by the Armchair Mayor, where I am identified as ... a Kamloops resident and former member of the Reform Party of Canada and the B.C. Reform Party, and a past and current member of the BC Conservative Party.

An individual named Joey Thomas, rather than actually commenting on the story, instead stated ... ‘A former reform party member? No thanks. How's the whole triple E senate thing going Al?’

So, yah ... I have never reversed my thoughts that Preston Manning, and the Reform Parties, call to have a Triple E Senate should become reality.  That is why I responded by stating:

“You find it a joke that ANY Prime Minister can be the determiner of who goes into the Senate, rather than them being democratically elected?

You find it democratic that Prince Edward Island, with a population of only 157 thousand people has 4 Senators, while BC with over 5 million has only 6?

You don't believe it should be effective?

A triple E Senate is the only way it can be a democratic institution, and it's a pity you can't seem to understand that”.

If you were not already aware, of the inequality shown with the example of Prince Edward Island, let me also enlighten you to the fact that New Brunswick has 10 senators ... Newfoundland / Labrador has 6 ... while Nova Scotia also has 10.  This means that including Prince Edward Island, the Maritime provinces have a total of 30 senators.

... all for a population or roughly two and a half million people.

Meantime regionally in Western Canada, as I already indicated, BC has 6 ... as does Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba – a total of 24 individuals, for Western Canada, are sitting in the Senate.


Image from the Canada Guide
Now before anyone decides to give me a history lesson, YES, I realize that the Senate, in it’s original make-up, was intended (at least in part) to reflect the four regions of the country – Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and the West.  Still however, in part that was due to population – and the population in Western Canada, back then, was indeed much lower that that of the other three regions.

NOT ANYMORE – far from it!

So, on day number 18 of “20 for 2020” comes a renewed demand that those wishing to lead government in the BC legislature, should insist on there being a Tripe “E” Senate.

If we truly believe in democracy, it is only fair, and it is right!

-------------------------------------------------

Here are the suggestions, to this point, on “20 for 2020” – I hope you’ll check them out if you have missed any:

#1 … those who wish to lead, should acknowledge that government must be about people.

#2 … a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from.

#3 … there should be a full review of all license costs and fees, which the provincial government has imposed upon us, to see where and how they are being used

#4 ... we need a permanent fix to the problem of keeping medical practitioners in some of the more rural areas of the province

#5 ... put an immediate end to the Community Benefits Agreement

#6 ... the next BC government must be committed to sustainable resource development

#7 ... government should make treatment for chronic conditions free to residents

#8 … new schools should be designed to incorporate community uses as identified by the areas they are to be located

#9 ... Bids submitted to build future ferries will include not just the lowest submission that meets structural requirements, but will also include the financial benefits of building in BC

#10 ... soberly audit the health ministry with a mind to make adult decisions for the long-term betterment of our health and care

#11 ... ICBC’s monopoly on vehicle insure must end

#12 ... Make politicians accountable to their electors, and maybe convince British Columbians that it is actually worth it to cast a vote

#13 ... This is NOT to reduce budgets for these three ministries, INSTEAD, it is to ensure what’s allocated provides BC residents the best services and education possible

#14 ... The public should be able to hold the BC Medical Association (and its members) accountable for their policies and practices

#16 ... The carbon tax, which adds hundreds of dollars a year to the cost of living for each of us ... and untold thousands of dollars to BC businesses and industry ... must end

#17 ... reconfigure all government ministries, to more closely align them in sensible groupings, or singular entities
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