CANADA’S ONLY ELECTED SENATOR JOINS MPP IN CALL FOR SENATORIAL ELECTIONS IN ONTARIO
(TORONTO, ON) – Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman was joined today by Canada’s only elected Senator, Bert Brown of Alberta, as Runciman announced introduction of a Private Member’s bill calling for Ontario to become the second province to elect senators-in-waiting by a public vote.
“Adoption of this initiative by the country’s most populated province could open the floodgate to real Senate reform and send out all the right messages to parts of the country that now feel alienated from the central government,” asserted Runciman.
Senator Brown stressed that this is a historic opportunity for Senate reform with public opinion strongly in support of an elected Senate and for the first time in Canada’s history, a Prime Minister publicly committed to the election of Senators.
“This is a window of opportunity to democratize the Senate and improve the Canadian parliament,” said Brown.
Senator Brown pointed out that Ontario is now two Senators below its Constitutional requirement and will be short seven Senators by late 2009.
He is also scheduled to discuss the issue today with Premier Dalton McGuinty.
