No fan of the Senate

Nunatsiaq News misunderstands the Senate. An election cannot create political legitimacy for an undemocratic institution.

As long as senators are distributed by geographic region instead of on a per capita basis, the Senate cannot be democratic, and creating an elected senate would be a disaster for democracy in Canada.

It is idiotic to want to create a system where someone from P.E.I. with four seats in the Senate and 138,000 residents would have 15,000 times more influence within the federal government than someone from Ontario with over 12 million residents and only 24 seats. Without political equality there is no democracy.

Secondly, outside of Nunavut (the last place where normal people can get elected,) elections attract, at best car, salesmen with social consciences and at worst, car salesmen.

At worst the Senate is a house for useless party hacks, and with the present government we have seen plenty of those elected.

But at best the Senate can include individuals who have proven their worth through experience, but who would never run in an election. Take Romeo Dallaire for example. He is an outstanding citizen and I am proud that he continues to serve our country.

The easy solution to our problem is not to have senators elected, but to demand as citizens that our leaders stop the corrupt practice of using senate positions as political handouts to party donors and to start appointing citizens based on their service to our country.

William Hyndman
Iqaluit