SENATE ABOLISHION MEANS DYING WITH DIGNITY
Last week’s My Canada commentary had the lowest reader access ever recorded. The reason we presume was subject matter. Canadians are apparently not interested that America is facing the possibility of Donald Trump becoming president. The man appears to be a radical upstart closing in on the unlikely prospect of being voted in as the country’s leader. Maybe the “who cares” reflection is similar right across the globe. Even with the apparent power to change the country’s persona more or less, a Trump victory would still need congressional and senate approval to institute any radical changes. Maybe the American built in safeguards will deter the various radical promises Trump keeps announcing over the media airways.
In the meantime there are much more interesting Canadian happenings to suggest support or criticize. Today’s deadline for Canada’s parliament to enact legislation clarifying the right to die is the most talked about case in point aside from Mohammed Ali’s death. What the outcome will be is anybody’s guess since there is legislation restricting medical practitioners and anyone else except military leaders to direct the killing of others. News reports indicate it is possible to have a doctor agree to end a life in several mostly painful ways. Possibly the lack of legislation as directed by the Supreme Court of Canada creates the possibility for some or even many people wishing to die to actually making it happen.
The difficult part of the situation for the ordinary person to comprehend is how the highest court in the country can issue an order that political parties can virtually ignore. It appears for vote getting reasons enacting demanded legislation and playing God themselves is acceptable to all elected parties. That sort of mindset is a major threat to democracy. If the Supreme Court can be ignored on this issue is that a trend that could change the control voters are supposed to have over elected governments? The situation begins to sound like the methods used by dictatorships everywhere to gain control.
Allowing an unelected politically appointed Senate control over a Supreme Court of Canada edict is at least dangerous, at most completely unacceptable. Hopefully the end result will be the dissolution of the unnecessary senate and redirecting the billions of dollars spent to pamper political allies of almost every political creed to improving the life of the general public. Why does Canada need to continue funding a group of people whose only claim to the riches conferred is support for a political dynasty currently or recently in power? Aside from interfering in the Supreme Count dying with dignity legislation it is difficult to remember any positive action the senators performed recently. Maybe Canadians could count lightly chastising senate members Duffy, Wallin, Harb and Brazeau for virtually stealing according to news reports as being acceptable in those circles. In most incidents outside the so-called ‘Chamber of Serious Second Thought’ charges like those attributed to the senators would mean court action and jail terms once proven. In the case of the senators involved dismissal of all charges against every senator involved and even some previously suspected of wrong doing was the solution.
Without doubt it is time for change. Disbanding the senate might be a major problem because it means opening up the constitution but isn’t the possible effect of major changes in the country, many needed, worth the inconvenience? Most problems surfacing from such an action such as Quebec succession are only put into abeyance and will eventually need resolution.
In the meantime there are much more interesting Canadian happenings to suggest support or criticize. Today’s deadline for Canada’s parliament to enact legislation clarifying the right to die is the most talked about case in point aside from Mohammed Ali’s death. What the outcome will be is anybody’s guess since there is legislation restricting medical practitioners and anyone else except military leaders to direct the killing of others. News reports indicate it is possible to have a doctor agree to end a life in several mostly painful ways. Possibly the lack of legislation as directed by the Supreme Court of Canada creates the possibility for some or even many people wishing to die to actually making it happen.
The difficult part of the situation for the ordinary person to comprehend is how the highest court in the country can issue an order that political parties can virtually ignore. It appears for vote getting reasons enacting demanded legislation and playing God themselves is acceptable to all elected parties. That sort of mindset is a major threat to democracy. If the Supreme Court can be ignored on this issue is that a trend that could change the control voters are supposed to have over elected governments? The situation begins to sound like the methods used by dictatorships everywhere to gain control.
Allowing an unelected politically appointed Senate control over a Supreme Court of Canada edict is at least dangerous, at most completely unacceptable. Hopefully the end result will be the dissolution of the unnecessary senate and redirecting the billions of dollars spent to pamper political allies of almost every political creed to improving the life of the general public. Why does Canada need to continue funding a group of people whose only claim to the riches conferred is support for a political dynasty currently or recently in power? Aside from interfering in the Supreme Count dying with dignity legislation it is difficult to remember any positive action the senators performed recently. Maybe Canadians could count lightly chastising senate members Duffy, Wallin, Harb and Brazeau for virtually stealing according to news reports as being acceptable in those circles. In most incidents outside the so-called ‘Chamber of Serious Second Thought’ charges like those attributed to the senators would mean court action and jail terms once proven. In the case of the senators involved dismissal of all charges against every senator involved and even some previously suspected of wrong doing was the solution.
Without doubt it is time for change. Disbanding the senate might be a major problem because it means opening up the constitution but isn’t the possible effect of major changes in the country, many needed, worth the inconvenience? Most problems surfacing from such an action such as Quebec succession are only put into abeyance and will eventually need resolution.