Saturday November 20, 2004
Alberta’s other election: nominees for the Canadian Senate
Campaign Life Coalition Analysis
In addition to passing judgment on their local MLAs and, by extension, on the Ralph Klein PC government, Albertans have another election to consider on November 22: who will be Alberta’s next four nominees to the Canadian Senate?
There are currently three vacancies in the Senate from the province of Alberta. The Constitution of Canada specifies that Alberta is entitled to six Canadian Senators, but the power to appoint those representatives still effectively resides with the Canadian Prime Minister, and not with the voters.
But Alberta has some experience in nominating its own Senators. This will be its third Senatorial election since 1989, when Stan Waters of the Reform Party was Alberta’s top choice. Waters was eventually appointed to the Senate by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and became Canada’s first elected Senator. Alberta's second Senate election took place in 1998, which resulted in the nomination of the two Reform Party candidates (Bert Brown and Ted Morton) as Alberta’s Senate nominees. Prime Minister Chrétien ignored the Alberta Senate election results.
Martin appears to be no better than Chrétien on this issue. With just days remaining before Alberta voters go to the polls, Prime Minister Martin had only negative comments about Alberta’s attempt to democratize the process for selecting Senators. In response to a question last week in the House of Commons, Martin had this to say: "I have long been an advocate of Senate reform, however I do not believe, Mr. Speaker, that doing Senate reform piecemeal really would bring us the desired result...What I think we should do is look at Senate reform, but look at it in its entirety."
Despite the position of the Liberal Prime Minister, there are ten Alberta candidates vying for the Senate nominations, and the top four candidates from Monday's election will be declared Alberta’s nominees. There are five candidates from the provincial Alberta Progressive Conservative Party, three from the new Alberta Alliance Party, and two independents. Alberta's Liberals and New Democrats have chosen to take a pass on this election.
For pro-life voters, there are four noteworthy choices (since four Senate nominees will be selected, and every voter is allowed up to four selections, it is possible to vote for all four known pro-life candidates).
Cliff Breitkreuz: The only pro-life candidate with federal elected experience is Cliff Breitkreuz, a rancher and farmer from Onoway, Alberta. From 1993 to 2000, Breitkreuz served as the Reform Party M.P. for the Yellowhead riding (he retired in 2000). While an MP, Breitkreuz supported pro-life and pro-family bills in Parliament and, in this election, has been outspoken in his support for the traditional definition of marriage. Breitkreuz supports a national pro-life law and is considered by Campaign Life Coalition to be "100% pro-life". Breitkreuz is one of the five Alberta PC candidates for Senate.
Link Byfield: Independent candidate Link Byfield was long associated with the former Alberta Report magazine, serving as its editor and publisher for 18 years. More recently, Byfield became the founding chairman of the Edmonton-based Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy. An outspoken conservative and supporter of traditional marriage, Byfield also favours a national pro-life law but would make exceptions for cases involving rape and incest.
Betty Unger: Another Alberta PC candidate, Betty Unger of Edmonton ran for the Canadian Alliance in 2000, losing a close contest to Liberal Cabinet Minister Anne McLellan. According to the Alberta PC website, Unger “owned and operated a successful Alberta nursing services company for many years and has an extensive record in politics and community service.” Unger has consistently indicated her support for the unborn and for the family, though she qualifies this support by insisting she would vote according to the wishes of her constituents.
Dave Usherwood: A resident of Cochrane, Alberta, Usherwood is a farm and ranch consultant running as an Alberta PC. Based on his response to a Campaign Life Coalition survey, he is pro-life and would support the introduction of a national pro-life law but, like Byfield, would make exceptions for those pregnancies resulting from situations involving rape and incest.
Also running:
Bert Brown: Along with Ted Morton, Brown was one of two Alberta nominees elected by Albertans in the 1998 Alberta Senate election. Brown has been a driving force behind the Senate reform movement and is running as an Alberta PC.
Vance Gough: A Calgary business instructor. (running for the Alberta Alliance).
Gary Horan: An Edmonton small business owner. (running for the Alberta Alliance).
Michael Roth. A Red Deer small business owner. (running for the Alberta Alliance).
Jim Silye. Former Reform Party MP (1993 to 1997). As an MP, Silye was known for his “pro-choice” views. Silye now serves as a Calgary oil company executive. He is running for the Alberta PC Party.
Tom Sindlinger: A Calgary economist. (Running as an Independent).
The Campaign Life Coalition Alberta Election 2004 web page presents information on where many Alberta Legislature candidates stand on life issues.
CLC ELECTION 2004 AND CANDIDATE EVALUATIONS
http://www.lifesite.net/elections/provincial/alberta/2004/
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