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The Scott Ross: Senate Saves Canada… Again

Apr

17

2014

How do you save democracy from itself? You appoint a Senate. In 1990 the democratically elected House of Commons passed Bill C-43 which would have criminalized all abortions. That bill was defeated by the appointed Senate. To this day abortions remain legal solely because of the Senate’s actions. In 2013 the democratically elected House of ...

The Scott Ross: Senate Saves Canada… Again

Apr

17

2014

How do you save democracy from itself? You appoint a Senate. In 1990 the democratically elected House of Commons passed Bill C-43 which would have criminalized all abortions. That bill was defeated by the appointed Senate. To this day abortions remain legal solely because of the Senate’s actions. In 2013 the democratically elected House of ...

The Scott Ross: Senate Saves Canada… Again

Apr

17

2014

How do you save democracy from itself? You appoint a Senate. In 1990 the democratically elected House of Commons passed Bill C-43 which would have criminalized all abortions. That bill was defeated by the appointed Senate. To this day abortions remain legal solely because of the Senate’s actions. In 2013 the democratically elected House of ...

The Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little

May

29

2013

If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable. For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action would be televised, sensationalized, and scrutinized. There wouldn’t be a Bieber vote that ...

The Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little

May

29

2013

If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable. For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action would be televised, sensationalized, and scrutinized. There wouldn’t be a Bieber vote that ...

The Scott Ross: How Harper Made The Senate More Accountable, Even If Just A Little

May

29

2013

If Justin Beiber was in the Canadian Senate it would be the most watched institution in all of government, and, undoubtedly, the most accountable. For if the Biebs walked down the Ottawan red carpet into that similarly coloured chamber, his every action would be televised, sensationalized, and scrutinized. There wouldn’t be a Bieber vote that ...

The Scott Ross: Mike Duffy & Why An Elected Senate Would Have Made This Worse

May

22

2013

Nobody really thinks Senator Mike Duffy received $90,000 in return for some political favour, but that public perception would most certainly change if he and every other Senator faced regular expensive election campaigns that depended on large contributions and even larger political favours. An elected Senate requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars every four years ...

The Scott Ross: Mike Duffy & Why An Elected Senate Would Have Made This Worse

May

22

2013

Nobody really thinks Senator Mike Duffy received $90,000 in return for some political favour, but that public perception would most certainly change if he and every other Senator faced regular expensive election campaigns that depended on large contributions and even larger political favours. An elected Senate requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars every four years ...

The Scott Ross: Mike Duffy & Why An Elected Senate Would Have Made This Worse

May

22

2013

Nobody really thinks Senator Mike Duffy received $90,000 in return for some political favour, but that public perception would most certainly change if he and every other Senator faced regular expensive election campaigns that depended on large contributions and even larger political favours. An elected Senate requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars every four years ...

The Scott Ross: The Undemocratic Elected Senate & The Democratic Appointed One

Apr

21

2013

90% of Americans support universal background checks for guns yet on Wednesday the American Senate struck down that legislation. That’s not very democratic, is it? Those in Canada who fervently cling to the idea that voting will make our Senate democratic almost completely ignore the problems that come with it, such as the lobbyists and ...

The Scott Ross: Why Canada Needs An Elected Senate Just Like America’s

Feb

20

2013

“Washington is broken.” – Barack Obama Looking at the Canadian Senate in isolation might motivate many to question it, but compared to the American Senate, Canadians should be proud of their upper chamber. Besides the fact that googling “Ottawa is broken” brings zero related results, the American Senate is so dysfunctional quite a few of ...

The Scott Ross: A More Democratic Senate Is Less So

Feb

13

2013

Canadians certainly are no Nero, but they do have at least one thing in common with the late Roman emperor. In 64 AD it is said that while Rome burned its emperor Nero fiddled. That while his city suffered calamity he amused himself with music. Today Canadians are doing something similar. Rome may not be ...

The Scott Ross: Sex and the Senate

Jan

13

2013

Winston Churchill is credited with an exchange that when adapted illustrates, not only the similarities between prostitution and politics, but current inconsistencies in the popular view of our Canadian government. Churchill: “Madam, would you sleep with me for five million pounds?” Socialite: “My goodness, Mr. Churchill… Well, I suppose… we would have to discuss terms, ...

The Scott Ross: America’s Broken Senate

Nov

27

2012

There might not be a more persuasive argument against an elected senate than the American example. From filibustering to partisan deadlock to disproportionate representation, this broken institution south of our border is largely responsible for the looming fiscal cliff jeopardizing the world’s largest economy and most powerful nation. Meanwhile Canada’s nefarious appointed senate provides boring ...