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Old 06-24-2005, 09:42 AM   #34
moon
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lethbridge
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Quote:
Originally posted by Lurch@Jun 24 2005, 08:31 AM
QUOTE

Also, I've mentioned this before, but if Alberta is really so crazy about an elected Senate why isn't there one provincially?



From what i understand...they (Alberta) aren't allowed to make the Senate elected.

But I agree, it would be a great first step.
Quote:

I'm not sure you got my point. I mean why doesn't Alberta establish a provincial Senate to balance the power of the Premier? As far as I understand it, provinces are more or less free to do these types of things - Quebec had a Senate until 1967 which it then abolished via a decision by the province. I don't have the background to know 100%, but it seems like Alberta could create an Upper House, establish election criteria and operate as a two house gov't. But it's clear to me Klein is not even remotely pursuing this - instead, he gives lip service to the concept and the federal level and creates an 'elected' Senator that nobody bothered to vote for at the expense of several million$.
I don't know how this would control the Premier as an Alberta Elected Senate would be very heavily dominated by Conservatives.

If Canada is going to have a Senate that is supposed to represent all of Canada, Alberta just wants people that actually represent Albertans and their ideas rather than those that support the government.
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