Mr. Speaker, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein is bravely proceeding with Senate elections. He knows it is time to give senators the respect of explicit approval of the voters.
We get only doublespeak from Liberals on this subject. In 1993 the Prime Minister promised “We will have an elected Senate. As Prime Minister I can make this happen.” Now in power, he does just the opposite. The justice minister says that the constitution requires the Prime Minister to make the appointments but she fails to mention there is nothing preventing him from appointing a person who has been chosen by the people.
What about Liberal Senator Nick Taylor? He was a key opposition player in carving out the Alberta Senatorial Selection Act 10 years ago, but now he says that mental patients on leave from psychiatric wards will be seeking the position. What an insult to candidates. What an insult to Albertans. What an insult to people with mental disabilities. He should be ashamed of himself. He should run for election and test whether this kind of outrageous statement has the support of Albertans.