Scenario: If you were G.G.?

[FiveParadox]

:arrow: Here's the Scenario

February 8, 2006

Three days ago, you were appointed as the Governor General of Canada by the Right Honourable Jacob Bronsted of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The Prime Minister rushes into your office, outraged that the Senate of Canada, an unelected Chamber, has chosen to outright reject an extremely controversial piece of legislation from his party; he demands that, notwithstanding any usual practice, you immediately sign the legislation into law, to "respect the wishes of the elected Chamber."

The Prime Minister says that, until the legislation is passed, his Government (with a majority in the House of Commons) is going to refuse to convene the House as a protest; what should you do?

 

[tawker]

RE: Scenario: If you were

I would pass the bill. The Senate has no right to veto bills being unelected.

 

[FiveParadox]

Okay, let's add a bit then.

:arrow: Supplement to Scenario

You are informed, upon consulting the Speaker of the House of Commons, that the Liberal Democratic Government had invoked closure on the legislation only four days after its introduction in the House.

 

[zoofer]

There is something about the Senate only being able to stop a bill 3 times or something to that effect. Then it becomes law.

 

[TenPenny]

:arrow: Here's the Scenario

February 8, 2006

Three days ago, you were appointed as the Governor General of Canada by the Right Honourable Jacob Bronsted of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The Prime Minister rushes into your office, outraged that the Senate of Canada, an unelected Chamber, has chosen to outright reject an extremely controversial piece of legislation from his party; he demands that, notwithstanding any usual practice, you immediately sign the legislation into law, to "respect the wishes of the elected Chamber."

The Prime Minister says that, until the legislation is passed, his Government (with a majority in the House of Commons) is going to refuse to convene the House as a protest; what should you do?

I would send the Prime Minister back to Grade 8, which he obviously missed.

 

[Finder]

Re: RE: Scenario: If you were G.G.?

There is something about the Senate only being able to stop a bill 3 times or something to that effect. Then it becomes law.

I don't have it infront of me, but I remember reading that as well. *shrugs* unless they have changed it.


Anyhow If they can actually stop a bill and I were the GG I would tell the PM to reform the system of government they have and that I as head of state should be elected in this 21st cventury and so should the Senate... The King of Canada has spoken. I'd also recommend plebiscite.

 

[Lotuslander]

I would inform the PM that I woudl be willing to appoint extra Senators in order for the legislation to be passed. If that would not be enough as the maximum extra senators is eight I believe then he would have to find a way out of the scenario himself. Since the Senate can not deny supply to the Government and can only delay money bills for 6 months the running of government would not be put into stasis. If the PM insisted that something be done I would suggest to him that he call an immediate election which I woudl agree to.

 

[FiveParadox]

My Strategy

Quite an appropriate response, Lotuslander. For the most part, I agree.

:arrow: My Strategy, Were I To Be Governor General

If the Prime Minister were to threaten to suspend the House of Commons until the Senate had passed the legislation, I would first request, with the co-operation of the Prime Minister, that Her Majesty authorize the appointment of eight Interim Senators (keep in mind please, that the interim expansion of the Senate is a power that remains the exclusive authority of Her Majesty, and is not delegated to the Governor General).

If the Senate were to again defeat the controversial legislation (let us assume that the legislation does not involve the appropriation of funds), and the Prime Minister were to again suspend sittings of the House of Commons, then I would have no choice but to take more sweeping action, in my opinion.

Rather than permit the House to suspend its sittings until the expiration of the current Parliament (up to five years), I would urge the Prime Minister to recommend the dissolution of the House; if he were to continue to freeze the Commons, without an election to decide the issue, then I would dismiss the current Prime Minister.

I would then appoint a new Prime Minister, either of the Government or the Opposition, who would assure me before such an appointment that he or she (the new Prime Minister) would recommend the dissolution of the House of Commons immediately; the appointment of a new Prime Minister would be necessary to precipitate an election, since Constitutional precedents would dictate that a Governor General should not dissolve the House without the advice of Council.

After which, the people of Canada could decide how to proceed.