July 2005 Issue A report of activities from Senator Dan Hays ear Readers, D A great deal has happened since my last newsletter, particularly the devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia. In fact, I witnessed the tragic consequences of this natural disaster first-hand in March when I paid an official visit to Indonesia. What was obvious to me, and Canadians in general, was the unprecedented level of destruction, but what was less-so was the triumph of the human spirit. From the students in dilapidated university dorms, to the family living in temporary shelter, to the children coping with their losses, I was moved by the resilience of the Indonesian people and by their ability to cope in the most difficult circumstances. Inside, you will find a brief glimpse of that visit, among the many others my diplomatic responsibility calls on me to do. Parliamentary diplomacy is one of my roles as Speaker of the Senate, and one I take very seriously. Moreover, as an Alberta senator, I believe this role also involves my province. Since my appointment as Speaker, I have always looked for ways to bring Alberta to the world and the world to Alberta. Accordingly, while over the last few years, I have had the honour to proudly represent Canada in more than 30 countries, I have also taken great pride in bringing delegations of parliamentarians from across the world to my hometown of Calgary. Indeed, delegates from Southeast Asia, to Europe, to the Middle East, to South America, and points in between, have all had the chance to see this great province and this great city. In this Issue ... Speaking of Alberta, there is a great deal to celebrate this year. The centennial, the visit of her Majesty the Queen and a new Lieutenant-Governor! 2 Reforming Britain’s And on top of all of this, the Alberta Scene – a National Arts Centre celebration House of Lords that brought the best of Alberta culture and arts to Ottawa earlier this spring. 3 New Senators Inside, you will also find excerpts from a speech I delivered in Scotland 4 Alberta Celebrates honouring Tommy Douglas, Canada’s greatest Canadian – as voted by Canadians 100 years ! in a nation-wide CBC poll. As well, I am pleased to offer an article on reforming 5 Calgary Exhibition & the British House of Lords, as part of my series examining parliamentary systems Stampede 2005 in other democracies. 6 Honouring So I invite you to visit my web site at www.sen.parl.gc.ca/dhays and read about Tommy C. Douglas everything I have mentioned and more. 8 A new Lieutenant- Governor for Alberta Sincerely, 9 Staying Connected 10 Diplomatic Corner 16 News from our office Page 2 Speaker’s Report July 2005 Reforming Britain’s House of Lords n my time as Speaker of the a series of reforms which began with Senate, I’ve had the opportunity the Parliament Act in 1911. Prior to toI visit several countries whose this reform, the Lords, most of parliaments include a second whom were Conservative, had chamber. While the senates in most unlimited power to reject legislation. of those countries are provided for However, after they blocked in constitutions drafted following the Chancellor David Lloyd George’s Second World War, a notable 1909 “People’s Budget,” which exception is the British House of created a form of social insurance to Lords, which dates back to the be partly financed by land and fourteenth century. income taxes, the Liberal Government introduced legislation The Senate of Canada, created in that would for the first time restrict 1867, was inspired to some degree the upper chamber’s powers. This by the House of Lords and shares new act ensured that bills could many of its characteristics. So become law after two years even reforms made to the Lords since without the Lords’ consent, provided 1911 offer much to ponder for those they be passed by the Commons in concerned with the continuing three successive sessions. It also evolution of our own Senate. restricted the Lords’ ability to delay money bills to one month. And the two parliamentary delegations I’ve led to the United Though other proposals for Kingdom have provided the modernizing the Lords were made in David Lloyd George (1863-1945) opportunity to study Lords’ reform the decades that followed the 1911 Obstruction of his 1909 "People’s Budget" launched the first major Lords’ reform from a historical standpoint, as well reform, it was only in the forties that Photo: National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth as examine its more recent another significant change took place. developments. In 1948, Clement Atlee’s Labour near a breakdown in its machinery,” Government embarked on a radical since a “large number of peers 3 Prime Minister Tony Blair’s program to nationalize the Bank of seldom if ever attend, ” the Labour Party was elected in 1997, England, the gas, electricity, coal, iron government introduced this measure promising several major constitutio- and steel industries, as well as the to create more “working peers.” nal changes1 that included making the railways. Fearing the Conservative Unlike their hereditary counterparts, House of Lords more democratic majority in the Lords would block however, life peers would not be and representative. Following these reforms, the government able to transfer their titles to through on this commitment, the introduced a bill which was to descendants. government adopted the House of become the Parliament Act 1949. This Lords Act in 1999, which removed the measure further reduced the period Besides balancing representation right of most of the 759 hereditary during which the Lords could delay by allowing for members to be peers to sit and vote in the Lords, bills from three sessions over two chosen from various political parties, while making provision for 92 of years to two sessions over one year. backgrounds and professions, this them to retain their seats. This was reform would for the first time allow seen as a transitional measure, since Reforms ushered in by the 1911 women to sit and vote in the House the government ultimately intended and 1949 Parliament Acts dealt with of Lords. Moreover, although the to remove all hereditary peers, as the powers of the upper chamber. 1958 Act allowed women to sit in well as devise a new method for However, it was only in 1958 that the Lords as life peers, it was only appointing members. significant changes to its composition with passage of the Peerage Act 1963 were made, when Harold Macmillan’s that hereditary peeresses were able The 1999 House of Lords Act Conservative Government passed to do so as well. The 1963 Act also profoundly changed the upper the Life Peerages Act2. Arguing that allowed Scottish peers to sit in the chamber, but it was only the latest in the upper chamber was “perilously Lords, and enabled hereditary peers July 2005 Speaker’s Report Page 3 New Senators to renounce their titles. Party Manifesto promises a free vote Prime Minister Paul Martin on abolishing the remaining heridita- announced the following Others proposals for reforming ry peers and defining the Lords’ appointments to the Senate on the Lords’ composition and powers powers to delay legislation4. The Li- March 24, 2005: were made in 1968 by Prime beral Democratic and Conservative The Honorable Art Eggleton, has Minister Harold Wislon’s Labour parties, meanwhile, are committed to served in public office at the municipal government. However, these propo- a largely elected House of Lords. level at the City of Toronto and in the sals were rejected, being deemed too Canadian House of Commons for over radical by supporters of the status So the debate continues. And we thirty years. quo, and too mild by those who an- will have to wait and see how the ted to abolish the House of Lords. new Blair Government – re-elected Elaine McCoy, Q.C., is President of on May 5 – intends to complete its the Macleod Institute at the University of It wasn't until 1999, as already modernization of the Lords. Calgary. A lawyer and former Alberta mentioned, that further reform took cabinet minister, Ms. McCoy has had place, when the Labour Government Reforms made to Britain’s upper over thirty years professional experience in regulation and policy development in passed the House of Lords Act. Funda- chamber over the last hundred years both the private and public sectors. mentally changing the composition of illustrate how intricate and arduous the upper chamber, this reform was the process can be, and how it must Grant Mitchell has long-been to be completed by removing all re- consider and balance many factors recognized as one of Alberta’s foremost maining hereditary peers, devising a before it can be accomplished. political,community and business leaders. new appointment mechanism, and Accordingly, to be successful, a streamlining the Lords’ powers. reform of our Senate will have to Robert W. Peterson is widely consider issues such as the selection recognized as one of Saskatchewan’s And on the heels of the sweeping or election mechanism for senators, leading entrepreneurs and community changes brought about by the 1999 the distribution of seats among activists. Act, the government appointed a regions, as well as the legislative Nancy Ruth has spoken authoritavely royal commission to study further powers of the second chamber. about the Canadian Charter of Rights reforms. Chaired by Lord Wakeham, Moreover, any change will have to and Freedoms and on a myriad of issues the commission proposed that the carefully examine the Senate’s concerning women’s rights, poverty, House of Lords be primarily a revi- relationship with the executive politics and economics.