Reforming Canadian democratic process
Here are some thoughts on Canadians' system of government.
1. A popularly-elected Governor General. There is no good reason why the nation's official head of state and ceremonial representative to the Monarchy should be appointed secretively and without public input. Canadians deserve nationwide elections for this post, just as many countries like Germany have elections for their largely-ceremonial President. The job should have a 3-year term of office, open to any Canadian citizen who wishes to take on the job, and a primary election should be held to "weed out" the field of candidates.
2. Residency Requirements for House of Commons and Senate candidates and office-holders. There is no good reason why candidates for MP or Senate positions should not be REQUIRED to have established bona-fide residency in the riding which they seek to represent. By standards of many other countries including the U.S., it is laughable and pathetic that political party leaders can arbitrarily "parachute" candidates into ridings where those candidates have not established residency.
3. Modified Term of Office. If I were looking at Canada's system, I think the House of Commons should be subject to national elections every three years, not every five years. This would reduce the artificial power-tripping aspect of the party-in-power electing to "call an election" as they see fit, since voters would be guaranteed another whack at holding the rascals accountable every three years. It brings more power back to the voters.
4. Elections and Term of Office for Senators. There is no good reason why a legislative appointment such as the Senate should be a lifetime job. It would make sense for Senators to run for their jobs every three years, in a year when the House of Commons is not up for election (i.e. House of Commons election in 2006 and 2009, Senate election in 2007 and 2010). There should be an OPEN primary election where the voters get to decide WHO is each party's nominee for the Senate - not the party hacks.
5. Senate "Advise and Consent" Confirmation of Appointees. The system of having an unelected head of state hire-and-fire key officials at will, with zero accountability to the public and to taxpayers, is inexcusably silly. There should be public review and confirmation of cabinet officers, ambassadors, judges, etc. by an independent Senate and by the independently-elected Governor General who would have limited veto power.
While my suggestions may sound "American", they are not intended to impose an American-style checks-and-balances system on a much smaller country. The objective is to give ordinary citizens from all walks of life a meaningful say in how their nation is governed, not just on the whim of some un-elected "prime minister" but on a consistent schedule.
1. A popularly-elected Governor General. There is no good reason why the nation's official head of state and ceremonial representative to the Monarchy should be appointed secretively and without public input. Canadians deserve nationwide elections for this post, just as many countries like Germany have elections for their largely-ceremonial President. The job should have a 3-year term of office, open to any Canadian citizen who wishes to take on the job, and a primary election should be held to "weed out" the field of candidates.
2. Residency Requirements for House of Commons and Senate candidates and office-holders. There is no good reason why candidates for MP or Senate positions should not be REQUIRED to have established bona-fide residency in the riding which they seek to represent. By standards of many other countries including the U.S., it is laughable and pathetic that political party leaders can arbitrarily "parachute" candidates into ridings where those candidates have not established residency.
3. Modified Term of Office. If I were looking at Canada's system, I think the House of Commons should be subject to national elections every three years, not every five years. This would reduce the artificial power-tripping aspect of the party-in-power electing to "call an election" as they see fit, since voters would be guaranteed another whack at holding the rascals accountable every three years. It brings more power back to the voters.
4. Elections and Term of Office for Senators. There is no good reason why a legislative appointment such as the Senate should be a lifetime job. It would make sense for Senators to run for their jobs every three years, in a year when the House of Commons is not up for election (i.e. House of Commons election in 2006 and 2009, Senate election in 2007 and 2010). There should be an OPEN primary election where the voters get to decide WHO is each party's nominee for the Senate - not the party hacks.
5. Senate "Advise and Consent" Confirmation of Appointees. The system of having an unelected head of state hire-and-fire key officials at will, with zero accountability to the public and to taxpayers, is inexcusably silly. There should be public review and confirmation of cabinet officers, ambassadors, judges, etc. by an independent Senate and by the independently-elected Governor General who would have limited veto power.
While my suggestions may sound "American", they are not intended to impose an American-style checks-and-balances system on a much smaller country. The objective is to give ordinary citizens from all walks of life a meaningful say in how their nation is governed, not just on the whim of some un-elected "prime minister" but on a consistent schedule.
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