If the people on a certain East Coast island want to know something about under-representation in the Senate, they should talk to the people on a certain West Coast island.
The suspension of Mike Duffy from the Senate and the retirement last week of Catherine Callbeck has left Prince Edward Island with two senators. Premier Robert Ghiz believes his province is now under-represented in the red chamber, but he isn鈥檛 pushing Stephen Harper to fill the vacancies, recognizing that the prime minister has likely put any plans for the Senate on the back burner.
Percy Downe, one of the two remaining P.E.I. senators, doesn鈥檛 agree. He believes it鈥檚 important that all MPs and senators carefully review all proposed legislation and budgets for their impact on P.E.I., population 145,000.
鈥淔ewer parliamentarians means less ability to perform this oversight,鈥� Downe said.
Meanwhile, one of Vancouver Island鈥檚 senators says 鈥� nothing. That鈥檚 because the Island, with a population of 750,000, doesn鈥檛 have a senator.
The Senate was initially formed, in part, to provide a voice for smaller regions, so they would not be overwhelmed by the more populated areas. That arrangement provided 10 senators each to New Brunswick (which has about the same population as Vancouver Island) and Nova Scotia, and four to P.E.I.
That representation was based on census returns of almost 150 years ago, and while the number of senators in the western provinces has increased, there鈥檚 still a huge imbalance. The three Maritime provinces, with a total population of 1.8 million, have 24 senators, the same number apportioned to the four western provinces, with a total population of 11 million.
Pardon us if we don鈥檛 shed any tears over the paucity of P.E.I. senators.
Vancouver Island has had only eight senators, and five of those were appointed more than 90 years ago. Yes, sa国际传媒鈥檚 five senators (there鈥檚 one vacancy) ostensibly represent the province at large, but it鈥檚 a large province and Vancouver Island is a distinct region within the province, with its particular needs and unique issues. It would be comforting to have someone speaking for us in the upper house.
The Senate has its flaws and weaknesses, but it is still needed. It helps provide balance in our legislative system. It ensures bills passed by the House of Commons get a proper review before they become law. And while politics play a huge part in Senate appointments, the Senate is still a step removed from the political process.
Since the Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government cannot make changes to the Senate without constitutional reform and the co-operation of the provinces, major reform is unlikely in our lifetimes.
But improvements could come incrementally without constitutional talks.
For instance, prime ministers could choose new senators based on ability, credibility and experience, rather than on their usefulness to party politics. (The political approach can backfire 鈥� the last batch of senators Harper appointed included the now-disgraced senators Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin.)
Senators, once appointed, could ensure they act on behalf of their regions and the country, and not as marionettes of the Prime Minister鈥檚 Office. When it comes to Senate job security, the prime minister giveth, but the prime minister cannot take away.
The Senate and its officers should continue to improve practices related to expenses and residency if the public is to take the 鈥渉onourable鈥� title seriously.
Harper appears to be in no hurry to fill the 13 Senate vacancies, but if and when he does, he should consider the Island.
When Vancouver Island has a senator or two, maybe we鈥檒l feel a twinge of sympathy for Prince Edward Island.
