Alberta senators should resign and run in provincial elections
In the wake of the federal election I am pondering how long it will be before the six individuals currently warming seats in the Senate as the supposed representatives of the Alberta people do the conscientious thing and resign.
For, after the Jan. 23 results, in which every single Member of Parliament elected to Ottawa from our province was a Conservative, surely none of the appointed individuals from our province now in the Senate can claim to have any real legitimacy.
Particularly so when every Conservative MP was backed by this province’s voters with huge majorities.
As it is, our supposed Senators do not have any legitimacy, for we have an Alberta Senate Elections Act, which is legal, but has been thwarted by two disgraceful prime ministers, Jean Chretien and Paul Martin.
Our readers constantly tell me they believe the loyalties of the six are not with the true political desires of the Alberta people.
Instead, they suspect their allegiance lies with the federal Liberal establishment, for, as they say, whoever pays the piper calls the tune.
So are we going to see acts of conscience—or see these individuals try to scuttle the initiatives of Prime Minister Stephen Harper or the other 27 MPs from our province?
Let’s just run through these amigos one by one, and also assess how much support they have from their supposed constituents.
Lethbridge’s Joyce Fairbairn was appointed by Pierre Trudeau in 1984.
Now, I’ve known Joyce for decades, and she’s an OK gal, but her chief claim to fame was scribbling memos for Trudeau when he was PM.
In Lethbridge last Monday Conservative Rick Casson won almost 30,000 more votes than his Liberal opponent.
What an endorsement!
How many votes did Joyce get back in 1984?
Just one—Trudeau’s vote.
Calgary’s Dan Hays is an amiable type, and at least pro-American, and was also appointed in 1984.
Last Monday, Calgary Conservative Jason Kenney won 38,000 votes more than the Liberal representative.
Guess how many votes sent Dan to the Senate.
Just one—again, that of Pierre Trudeau.
Edmonton’s Tommy Banks was a fine—even outstanding—big band leader who went to the Senate without a mandate from the Alberta people in 2000.
In Edmonton, James Rajotte was re-elected with a majority of more than 20,000 votes over his Liberal opponent.
How many votes sent Tommy to the Senate?
Just one—that of Chretien.
Grant Mitchell, of Edmonton, while an MLA and provincial Liberal leader, failed utterly to convince Albertans his party was worthy of government and also decided he was unqualified to be our province’s premier.
In Edmonton, Conservative John Williams got 20,000 more votes than Paul Martin’s candidate.
How many votes put Mitchell into the Senate last year.
Just one vote—from Martin.
Elaine McCoy, of Edmonton, held a couple of minor portfolios in our provincial Progressive Conservative government, but is, I’ll admit, a somewhat entertaining after-dinner speaker.
Again in Edmonton, Conservative Ken Epp had an edge of more than 25,000 votes over his Liberal opponent.
How many votes did Elaine get when she was appointed to the Senate in 2005?
Just one—from Canada’s most famous shipping tycoon.
When Claudette Tarif was given her plum last year, I noted that 99.99% of Albertans had never heard of her,
Today, 99.99% of Albertans likely still don’t know who she is.
Last week, Conservative Rona Ambrose garnered almost 30,000 more votes than her Liberal opponent.
How many votes sent Claudy to the Senate?
Just one—from a certain tax haven specialist.
So how about it, Joyce, Dan, Tommy, Grant, Elaine and Claudy?
Why not end this preposterous charade and do the honourable thing, resign, and let Alberta’s elected senators, who have the backing of the Alberta people take over?
Or at least resign and run in the next Alberta Senate elections and see if the people will give you the legitimate nod.
Be individuals of principle, not patronage.
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