Dear editor,
It seems whenever the Senate is involved in controversy, some people come out of their caves and spout, “Abolish the Senate!”
First the Saskatchewan government, then Manitoba — and now the B.C. NDP is at it, howling like a bunch of hungry wolves.
I’m 80 years old and an immigrant who has learned to respect Canadian institutions. In my studies of Canadian history I’ve read extensively about how Confederation came about and the mechanisms created to equip this country with viable, stable governance.
As most of us know, the Senate was created to provide “sober second thought” to provide a check on the governing party in particular and the Commons in general.
Can you imagine this country granting unfettered power to the likes of Stephen Harper by scrapping the one institution capable of curbing his excesses?
Admittedly, Harper has stuffed the Senate with Tory hacks — Senators Duffy and Wallin come to mind – but that chamber is still capable of saying No!, when a particularly obnoxious measure emerges from the Commons.
The Senate is in some disarray, to be sure, but it should be repaired, not scrapped. Those advocating such an extreme measure are not thinking ahead of their tiny little noses.
Norm Blondel,
Courtenay