Senate Reformer

Stephen Harper said he wants an elected senate. He hasn't quite gotten out the Reform platform with the "Elected, Equal, Efficient" just yet. Maybe the two other E's are coming tomorrow and the day after.

What Harper didn't say is neither how he wants the Senators to be elected, nor whether an eleted Senate would in fact be different from a House of Commons with a different distribution of seats by province. If it wouldn't, then why should it exist at all. If it would, he should say how so.

Another fact Harper seemingly isn't aware of is that he can't just pass a bill to make the Senate elected. Trudeau wanted to do just that in the late 1970's - the Supreme Court said such a bill would be unconstitutional. Harper's plan would require a constitutional amendment, and he never mentionned he was ready to try to get one adopted by the provinces, and with good reason since Quebec and Ontario together can block any constitutional amendment, and for different reasons, they are not likely to be happy with Mr. Harper's idea.

So Mr. Harper, how about checking the constitution of the country you want so dearly to govern before making promises you won't be able to hold?