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Good morning. It’s a pleasure, as always, to be back in Vancouver. It’s especially a pleasure to be back in this beautiful British Columbia weather at this particular time of year. It’s also an honour to be joined today by Tony Fogarassy, our candidate here in Vancouver Centre, Elizabeth Pagtakhan from Vancouver East, Kanman Wong from Vancouver Kingsway, Stephen Rogers from Vancouver Quadra, and Tarlok Sablok from Vancouver South
Canada needs change to a new government. This new government must bring democratic accountability back to Ottawa after 12 years of scandal and inaction. Canada has a long and proud tradition of political democracy. We are one of the oldest democracies in the world, we have long had a universal ballot and a history of free and fair elections, and Canada’s expertise in elections is universally respected. Canadians often provide advice or election monitoring for emerging democracies around the world. This is, I think, one of the reasons why Canadians have been so shaken by the sponsorship scandal. The millions diverted and stolen raised questions not only about corruption in the use of public funds – this corruption also raised questions about the integrity and fairness of the electoral process itself. As I have said repeatedly in this campaign, we need sweeping reforms to show Canadians that their national government will not tolerate corruption in the future. Unethical behaviour must be dealt with long before it becomes an epidemic. This is the motivation behind the federal Accountability Act, the first piece of legislation that I plan to introduce as Prime Minister. And we need to go further. Cleaning up corruption and restoring accountability is the first step. We also need to vigorously pursue other measures to put Canada back in the forefront of democratic practice. Some of our institutions have not kept up with developments in the democratic world. They are falling short of the expectations of modern, mainstream Canadians.
There are three critical reforms. First, we need to get on with modernizing our upper house. We should get on with the job of electing senators. Secondly, we want fair, fixed election dates, not dates chosen simply for the partisan political interests of the Prime Minister. And finally we want to clean up internal party politics, beginning with grassroots democratic control of the nomination process. All three of these initiatives will strengthen democracy of Canada and require a Prime Minister willing to bring in legislation and enact reform.
First, let’s get on with the job of electing senators. A senate chair should be occupied by someone with a democratic mandate, and Canadians should be able to mark their ballot for their Senator, as well as for their MP. We need a ballot with senators’ names, and seats with senators that have been elected. Under a Conservative government, Canadians will choose who sits in this chair. In the 21st century, those who want to sit in the parliament of a democratic state should have a mandate from the people. The Prime Minister currently holds a virtually free hand in the selection of Senators. As Prime Minister I will use that power to establish a federal process for electing senators. Alberta has already held provincial elections for individuals aspiring to the Senate. A national Conservative government will establish a national process for senatorial elections in each province and territory on an interim basis.
Electing senators is, of course, only the first reform we need. Establishing a fixed term for senators – a term consistent with the norms of democratic office – will also be a particularly high priority. The naming of elected senators will get the ball rolling on these and other senate reforms. Once we start electing senators, we will engage the provinces and Canadian voters to start building a broad consensus on a more comprehensive plan of senate reform. An appointed Senate is a relic of 19th century Canada. An elected Senate, reflective of the federal nature of our democracy, will be a defining feature of the 21st century Canada. The Liberal position of all-or-nothing reform, of no change until everything is changed, is designed to take us nowhere. It has succeeded, to Canada’s detriment. It is time to move ahead.
Next, let’s get on with the job of setting fixed election dates well in advance. The past decade provides a strong case for setting fixed election dates. Canadians have faced three mid-term elections all called on a date designed for no reason other than the partisan benefit of the Prime Minister of the day. Other Canadian leaders – indeed even some Liberal leaders – have taken the initiative to abolish this practice. British Columbia has already taken this step. On the day he took office, Premier Campbell announced the date of the next provincial election and enshrined it in legislation. Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador have moved in this direction as well. A Conservative government will introduce legislation drawing on the B.C. model. Obviously, my legislation will not propose the date of January 23, 2010. The current date, you will recall, was selected by Mr. Martin against the advice of all the other parties. My own preference would be for elections held every four years in the early fall. I will, however, consult with the other parties before proposing a permanent timetable. As is the case in the B.C. legislation, a temporary departure can be made in the timetable in the event of the loss of confidence of the government in a minority parliament. We simply must have fair, fixed election dates.
Finally, let’s get on with the job of cleaning up internal party politics. In recent years, there have been too many examples of political parties imposing candidates against the will of local constituency associations. This is particularly anachronistic given that the local electoral district associations of each party now have their own legal status in the elections act. A new Conservative government will introduce and pass legislation to ensure a party’s local candidate must have the approval of their local constituency association. A Prime Minister demeans local democracy when he parachutes a candidate into a riding over the objections of the local members.
In conclusion, the next government must act quickly and decisively to clean up corruption and re-establish integrity and accountability. And we must go further. We must set our sights higher for Canadian democracy. When it comes to democracy the cost of reform is surely less than the price of neglect. Over the last twelve years, Liberal politicians have not only grown too comfortable with old-style politics-as-usual. They have also abused outdated practices to an unprecedented degree. A new Conservative government will establish a process for electing senators in every part of the country. In consultation with the other parties, we will set a fixed four-year election date, and we will guarantee democracy in the local party nomination process. The choice Canadians face on January 23rd is between a practical Conservative plan to revitalize democracy and a Liberal pattern of dithering and inaction.
On January 23rd, stand up for accountability, stand up for democratic reform, and stand up for Canada.
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For further information: Conservative Party Press Office (613) 755-2191
