Mr. Speaker, in 1989 Albertans proudly chose Stan Waters as their first elected senator in Canadian history. In Edmonton last week Albertans, their provincial government as well as their federal government representatives reaffirmed their overwhelming support for an elected Senate, the first step toward a triple E Senate, elected, equal and effective.
The Prime Minister is on record saying: “I pledge to work for a Senate that is elected. As Prime Minister I can take steps to make it happen”.
Talk is cheap but unfortunately an unaccountable, out of control Senate is not cheap. Canadians can ill afford the status quo of unaccountability and absenteeism.
I urge the Prime Minister to heed the democratic will of the people to end backscratching patronage appointments to the Senate and to make good on his pledge for an elected Senate, or is the pledge for an elected Senate just one more in a long line of broken promises?