GG and senate?

[bornagainbiking]

Considering our tough economic times, two questions.
one: Should the GG be trapsing off to Europe on an expensive junket for Canadian Arts, especially with all the layoffs and possible bailouts?
two: Do we really need a senate at what cost? Most of these guys are retired and collecting huge pensions. Do we need the cost of the GG's office?

[DHLawrence]

Better than letting the PM run things single-handed. As long as there's a Senate and G-G, there's at least the illusion that no PM can hold a hostile takeover of the country and turn us into a dictatorship.

[markbarbera]

The Senate's role is more important than most people appreciate. It is a necessary part of our parliamentary system. How it is assembled may be a subject of discussion, but its existence is crucial in a parliamentary democracy.

[raisethehammer]

I've always wondered what the heck the GG does.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

I've always wondered what the heck the GG does.

Just our head of state.

[DHLawrence]

Or rather, the representative of our head of state, the Queen. Both are mainly ceremonial in status in Canada, and mainly do goodwill tours and use their status to promote causes.

[emge]

exactly. those trips are very important because of the goodwill and awareness/promotion of causes they generate... and so I wouldn't quibble over that relatively minor expense.

There's an unbelievable response to them oftentimes, and they are certainly not trips made because they enjoy them, or according to their particular personal preferences.

[DHLawrence]

And even if you do quibble over them, you have to admit that Jean is spending way less than Clarkson did!