Public opinion polls show that most Albertans support an elected Senate and I have told Prime Minister Chretien in my letter that I think he has underestimated the depth of feeling on this issue in Alberta. I also suggested that his action may have set back the cause of national renewal. The Prime Minister claims to believe in comprehensive Senate reform. He appears unwilling, however, to do anything about it. No change to the Constitution is needed to appoint someone from a list of nominees chosen by the province.
History proves that major change can happen by stages.
The people of Oregon decided in 1904 that they had had enough of an undemocratic, appointed Senate in the United States and started to elect their Senators. Their bold and courageous act led to reform of the U.S. Senate and an eventual constitutional amendment in 1913 requiring that all Senators be popularly elected. There is nothing stopping the Prime Minister from honoring the outcome of our Senate nominee election. As we already know, the precedent was set in 1990 with the appointment of elected nominee Stan Waters. I would like the Prime Minister to explain how he intends to achieve any Senate reform and when Canadians can expect to see meaningful change.