WAKE UP CANADA!!
Maryann Kerr, MA Leadership
Chief Executive Officer | Certified Leadership Coach
Are Canadians asleep at the wheel? Are we so apathetic that we’ve forgotten that public policy affects almost every aspect of our lives? Garbage collection, healthcare spending, taxation, childcare, education, roads, infrastructure and on an on. It can be argued that policy decides everything from the food we eat and water we drink to the quality of the air we breathe.[1]
In the last two months, four new Senators were announced to the Senate of Canada with hardly a peep. No conversation about the shockingly undemocratic process that allows 105 individuals to have power to dramatically impact public policy. No mention that beginning in 2016 nominees are now vetted through, an unsurprising level of political cronyism called the Senate Advisory Board.[2] No concern that this hand picked, slightly vetted group of individuals have the power to impact public policy in a manner that is outrageous in a democracy.
Not only can the Senate propose amendments to legislation at the third reading of a bill that has landed there through a duly democratic process and been studied by elected representatives in committee, but they can also more easily pass their own. According to the Senate website, “Senators can introduce their own bills on subjects that are important to Canadians they represent. (Emphasis mine) Senate public bills can have an easier time going through the legislative process (again, emphasis mine) than House of Commons private member’s bills, making it simpler for individual senators to introduce laws to help improve Canadians lives[3].”
How exactly do hand picked Senators “represent” Canadians? And why oh why don’t we care?
Don’t get me wrong. I admire many of the individuals currently sitting and some who once sat, in our sober chamber of second thought. However, I do not believe this system works in a democracy. To suggest that the Senate is nonpartisan when I’ve met three senators who declared their “previous” political affiliation to me, makes this a bit hard to swallow.
Apathy is prevalent in our voter turnout too. From a high in 1962 of 79% to 62.6% in 2021[4] we lag far behind other member countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) at a rank of 42 of 49 countries. According to StatsCan, the top reasons for not voting are a lack of interest in politics (32%), being too busy with daily obligations at (24%), having an illness or disability (11%), or being out of town (9%).[6] Perhaps these are the same reasons we are okay with having such a powerful, unelected, but supposedly representative body, in this country.
I wonder if there is a lesson we can learn from our neighbors to the south. Canadians take pride in the legitimacy, integrity and fairness of the Supreme Court of Canada particularly when compared to the highly polarized and politicized U.S. Supreme Court.[7] However, in the U.S., Senators are elected in each State and I think we should consider this here.
In the meantime, please nominate yourself or someone you admire to a position in the Senate. Perhaps if we flood the application process, folks will pay attention and consider change. Here’s the link: Opportunities - PCO (njoyn.com)
Maryann Kerr is author of “Tarnished: Let’s rethink, reimagine and co-create a new social impact sector.
The lack of concern is indeed puzzling, considering the implications of such a system.
Happy, high functioning neurodivergent, innovative thinker, people oriented, task oriented, satisfaction oriented, highly professional, highly ethical and empathetic.
9moUnfortunately Maryann, apathy is a co-morbid symptom of the NIMBY plague. I don't know what else to say.. perhaps politics should be part of the required curriculum in middle and high-school.. Good luck with that though!
Advocate for those who are victimized by domestic violence, violence against women and murdered and missing indigenous women. I use my experience to help you pick up the pieces, and help you create a new picture. 💜
9moNot looking for any in New Brunswick as of yet 🤦🏻♀️ I checked it out thank you for sharing this very vital info Maryann Kerr
As I hit post on this article, I discovered via CBC/Radio-Canada that I agree with Pierre Poilievre on something...and this surprises me. We need significant Senate reform if our democracy is to thrive.