For some time, Canadians have been asking for senate reform.  Canada has changed significantly from the time the Senate was created in 1867.  However, the Senate has not significantly changed over this period of time.  The Senate is known as the chamber of sober second thought for legislation passed by the House of Commons and it was given the important role of protecting regional, provincial, territorial and minority interests.

To properly protect the interests of Canadians, Senators need to be knowledgeable regarding the issues facing Canadians.  In 1867, 95% of Canada’s population lived in rural areas.  In 2012, 80% of Canada’s population live in urban centres.  Increasingly, the Senate must be connected to issues facing our municipalities in order to appropriately protect the interests of our population.

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities are key associations that must work closely together with the Senate to ensure relevant policy matters are addressed and to ensure that legislation is effective.  Municipal governments are most closely connected with the people and can bring tremendous insight to the issues all Canadians are facing.

I would like to see an independent senate to ensure that no person or group could sway the consideration of legislation.  An independent Senate could also increase the voice of people outside of party politics.  The younger generation are frequently disengaged from our political process and we must connect with our younger generation using their methods, such as social media, to give them a voice in creating the Canada of the future.

Alberta is the only province that has held Senate elections and Prime Minister Harper has committed to appointing Senators from the list of elected Senator candidates.  I have started to work with leaders from municipalities across Canada to heighten awareness of Senate elections and generate excitement for holding elections in other provinces and territories.  This is how Senate reform will take place.  It will be a grass roots movement that will make Senate reform a reality.  Join me in creating an elected and effective Senate that will address the real issues facing Canadians into the future.

• The Senate is the Chamber of sober second thought.
• The Senate has the important role of protecting regional, provincial, territorial and minority interests.
• Senators examine and amend legislation from the House of Commons.
• Senators investigate policy matters.
• Senators analyze the federal budget for efficiency.

How many Senators are there for each Province or Territory?

Much of the work of the Senate is carried out in committees that:

• Study proposed legislation
• Investigate policy matters
• Examine government spending proposals.

Special policy studies are carried out on issues that affect Canadians in their daily lives.  An example of issues that have been studied include poverty, euthanasia and assisted suicide, illegal drugs, land use, Aboriginal affairs and human rights.  Following the study reports include an analysis and recommendations which often influence proposed legislation and government policy.

When an issue requires investigation we all know that an internal inquiry holds less credibility than a full public inquiry.  Serious issues require an independent review by individuals whose sole responsibility is to determine what is true.  Public policy and legislation affect the lives of all of us and should also be subject to an independent review by individuals who can not by swayed by party politics.  This will ultimately result in better legislation, more efficiencies and real solutions to issues.

Alberta is a leader in Canada by having Albertans elect “Senators in waiting” during a provincial or municipal election. The list of elected candidates goes to the Prime Minister who makes the final decision and appointment.  Prime Minister Harper has indicated that provinces should proceed with Senate elections and has committed to appointing the elected “Senators in waiting”.

“Canada’s thousands of rural municipalities face many challenges including provision of adequate public infrastructure – roads, bridges, drinking water, and public amenities,” says Bracko. “There are solutions and the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties has put forward a number of recommendations to address these challenges that should be implemented.”

The AAMD&C recommendations are outlined within the document, One Vision, Many Voices:  How to Build a Sustainable Rural Canada. Key recommendations include:

• Increase cooperation and partnership among rural municipalities, senior levels of government, industry, rural stakeholders and Aboriginal communities.
• Increase educational opportunities for rural Canadians by reducing the barriers to access post-secondary opportunities.
• Increase high speed connectivity (broadband internet) in rural and remote regions of Canada to ensure readily available access to critical information and promote opportunities.
• Ensure stable, predictable funding for local and regional governments, not necessarily based on population.
• Establish a federal ministry dealing solely with issues and opportunities of rural and remote Canada.
• Establish a network to share best practices for rural economics, infrastructure, environment and governance across all jurisdictions of Canada.

Rural communities are critical to the economic, social and environmental fabric of Canada. The natural resources, energy, agricultural products, and raw materials extracted from rural areas now make up 50 per cent of Canada’s exports. These industries are driving corporate profits, paying billions of dollars in taxes, and creating spin off jobs and new growth in Canada’s urban areas.

As an Alberta Director with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Bracko continues to work with the Rural Caucus to ensure rural sustainability.

To read more about Bracko, including his goals and accomplishments, visit www.lenbracko.ca.

Contact:

Len Bracko

Candidate for the Senate

780-218-4475

“Provincial trade barriers cost business and Canadians billions/year, and is an issue that has been a concern to me for many years,” says Bracko.  As the MLA for St. Albert in 1995, Bracko lobbied the Alberta Government to eliminate trade barriers starting with provincial agreements. As AUMA Director, he worked on a Governance Committee to address issues related trade.

In 2006, Premiers Klein and Campbell established The Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) to remove trade barriers between Alberta and British Columbia.  Saskatchewan was the third province to join Alberta and British Columbia under the New West Partnership Trade Agreement (NWPTA) that creates Canada’s largest, barrier-free, interprovincial market and presents a great opportunity for continued economic growth in all three provinces.

“NWPTA has resulted in concrete benefits to the signatory provinces. I would like to see a similar agreement in place that removes barriers between all provinces and territories in Canada,” says Bracko. “I can see a Senate Committee having a key role in facilitating this agreement.”

Some of the benefits of the NWPTA (www.newwestpartnershiptrade.ca ) include:

• Canada’s most open and competitive economy
  British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have a market of almost nine million people and a Gross Domestic Product of more than $550 billion.
• Labour mobility
  Labour mobility provisions allow certified workers to practice their occupation in the three provinces without being subject to additional exams or training requirements.
• Business registration
  Businesses registrants in one province will be able to seamlessly register in the other provinces at the same time as their original incorporation.  All residency requirements are removed.
• Streamlined regulations
  Unnecessary differences in business standards and regulations will be eliminated.
• Enhanced competitiveness
  Allowing goods, services, capital and workers to flow freely across the British Columbia-Alberta-Saskatchewan borders will boost trade, make it easier for businesses to expand into the other provinces, and lower costs for businesses and taxpayers.
• Best value for public spending
  Open procurement policies with low thresholds help ensure best value for tax dollars. This also creates more opportunities for small- and medium-sized businesses to bid on public contracts.

To read more about Bracko, including his goals and accomplishments, visit www.lenbracko.ca. 

Contact:

Len Bracko

Candidate for the Senate

780-218-4475

• Alberta is currently the only province in the country to elect senate nominees through voting.
• Alberta’s Senatorial Selection Act was originally introduced into law in 1987, allowing voters to elect nominees to fill vacant seats in the Senate.
• Senate nominee elections have been held in Alberta in 1989, 1998 and 2004.
• A number of Alberta’s elected Senate nominees have been appointed to the Senate.
  • Stan Waters, winner of the first Alberta Senate nominee election in 1989, was appointed in 1990 by former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
  • Betty Unger, also selected in the 2004 election, was appointed by Prime Minister Harper in 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Alberta hold elections for Senate Nominees?

• Albertans continue to indicate their support for a Triple-E Senate – one that is elected, equal and effective. Electing nominees to fill our province’s vacant Senate seats is a meaningful first step by the province towards addressing Albertans’ concerns about their role in the federal decision-making process. 
  

Who can run as a Senate Nominee?

• The Canadian Constitution says that a Senator must be thirty years old, be a resident of the province they represent, and own property worth $4,000 (above their debts).
• To qualify as a candidate under the Alberta Senatorial Selection Act, a nomination form with 1,500 supporting signatures are required and a $4,000 deposit must be posted.

Learn more at http://www.international.alberta.ca/592.cfm

“Investing in infrastructure helps to stabilize our fragile economy during uncertain economic times and also enables business to prosper,” says Bracko, who is currently a Councillor for the City of St. Albert and Board Member with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). “Through my role and interests, I am well versed on the challenges Canada faces with its infrastructure and I agree with the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Denis Lebel, that public infrastructure has always been, and will continue to be, a key driver of Canada’s success as a nation.”

Bracko knows that highways, roads, water distribution and treatment facilities, energy generation and distribution are key parts of our infrastructure that enable Canada to have a competitive economy.

“Although excellent progress has been made in addressing municipal infrastructure needs, I continue to keep this issue in the forefront as 50 per cent of our public infrastructure will have reached the end of its lifespan in only 15 years,” adds Bracko. As infrastructure is developed, Bracko would like to see the cost-of-life cycle maintenance and replacement of infrastructure built into a long-term plan so appropriate financial planning can be realized.

During Bracko’s 10 years as a Committee Member and Alberta Director with FCM, he has participated in planning, brought forward motions, lobbied and collaborated with the Government of Canada to secure infrastructure funds for municipalities across Canada.

To read more about Bracko and his goals and accomplishments, visit www.lenbracko.ca.

Contact:

Len Bracko

Candidate for the Senate

780-218-4475