Roundup: Modernization beyond cameras

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The Senate’s modernization committee came out with their first report yesterday that had 21 recommendations, almost all of which were fairly common-sense, but wouldn’t you know it, the only one that most media outlets glommed onto was the one about broadcasting Senate proceedings, never mind that it was pretty much always the plan to do so once they moved to the new chamber in 2018 (as it was too expensive in the current one given the maxed out infrastructure). Other recommendations that caught the mainstream attention were developing a mechanism to split up omnibus bills, giving a more proportional role for non-aligned senators on committees and coming up with a modified way of selecting the Senate Speaker (in a rubric that doesn’t require constitutional amendment) were also up there, while Kady also clocked the recommendation on ensuring that they recognise any group over nine senators that wants to organise themselves as a caucus or parliamentary group that can choose its own leader, and that those groups can have access to sufficient research dollars.

Less publicised were the number one recommendation of a mission statement for the Chamber to guide its activities in the Westminster tradition, finding ways to reorganise its Order Paper and Senate Question Period to not only formalise inviting ministers but also Officers of Parliament (but I’m less keen on reducing it to two days per week to give the “Government Representative” a break – if he wants the salary, he should keep up with the workload). The Independent Working Group says they’re mostly happy with these changes, but want more assurances of representation on key committees like Senate Rules and Internal Economy, where they need to have the actual power to break up the duopoly that currently exists between the established parties, which is fair.

What the report does not say is that parties should be eliminated, and in fact goes out to specifically say that the institution functions within the Westminster model, which includes government and opposition roles, and nothing in that report is intended to assume or advocate for the elimination of those roles, and that’s important. Opposition is important for the practice of accountability, and that’s something the Senate is very good at providing. There will be more reports and recommendations to come, and I’ll have more to say in the coming days, but I’m heartened to see that there is a commitment to preserving these key features, rather than to blow them up in the continued kneejerk allergy to partisanship that currently grips the imagination of would-be Senate reformers.

Good reads:

  • In carbon pricing fallout, Nova Scotia says no to a carbon tax but they’re running figures on cap-and-trade, while Trudeau and Wall got snippy over Twitter.
  • Jane Philpott has hinted broadly that any increases in health transfers will come with strings attached for things like home care and mental health.
  • The NDP motion on a committee to oversee arms sales was voted down (and probably for the best because it sounded like an overreach of an MP’s job).
  • John McCallum says they are sending a team to investigate how to help Yzidis in Iraq, and he will consider a moratorium on citizenship revocations with few appeals.
  • Former Atlantic Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache is adding his concern to the possibility that there will be no Atlantic voice on the bench.
  • The government’s bill to equalize cabinet ministers’ status and salaries (basically eliminating junior ministers) also lays the groundwork to expand its size.
  • The new Chief Statistician is trying to strike a conciliatory tone with the gong show known as Shared Services Canada.
  • The Commons public safety committee unanimously adopted a report about the need to address PTSD among first-responders across the country.
  • BC has formally agreed to the CPP expansion after hesitating, and Trudeau promises legislation to make it happen soon.
  • The Environment Commissioner warned about CNSC’s record keeping on inspections, as well as Parks Canada assessments and fish stock monitoring.
  • Justin Trudeau attended a vigil for missing and murdered Indigenous women, and reminded them that things can’t change overnight.
  • The Canadian Forces is reviewing its policies around protecting cadets after increasing complaints of sexual misconduct (especially during summer camp).
  • The Senate is now formally garnishing Mike Duffy’s wages to recoup those illegitimate expenses aired in court.
  • His rivals may mock him, but Maxime Bernier is sticking with his “Mad Max” image.
  • Susan Delacourt suggests that it’s time for Trudeau to cut his losses on electoral reform, as it’s never going to get consensus in time to make the necessary changes.

Odds and ends:

Maclean’s has a conversation with economist Andrew Leach about yesterday’s carbon pricing announcement.