Emerson and Fortier not stepping down. Now what?

Emerson is not leaving. Despite NDP and Liberal partisanship, riding polls, there will be no by-election, no recall. Why? Because no law exists.

Even if anti-floor-crossing (AFC) legislation is introduced through a private-member's bill, it will get defeated ... again.

Was Emerson's floor-crossing ethical? Depends on what his motives were. Unlike Stronach, he didn't cross to prop-up a corrupt gov't that was about to fall. He wants to continue on the softwood lumber deal, which was ready to go before, but Paul Martin supposedly delayed it (the verdict is still out on that one). He may not even seek re-election, nor has he any leadership ambitions.

Michel Fortier is in cabinet because Harper appointed him to the Senate. He didn't even want to run in an election. Harper needed some Montreal representation in cabinet, but the senatorial region Fortier represents in Quebec isn't Montreal. I'm a bit confused. However, Fortier will be held accountable in the Senate.

Regardless, both appointments are legal, part of our British parliamentary system and neither minister is stepping down.

So now what? What's happened?

- Liberals are calling for Senate question period to be televised. Good idea! How many will actually show up now?
- People are questioning our entire parliamentary system -- in fact, many are just beginning to learn the prinicples behind it and how it actually works.
- People are going back in Canadian political history to see how parties formed, who's switched parties, even in Britain.
- People want to recall their MP on a single issue rather than the whole record
- People are in a rage that this can all legally occur.

So throughout this whole charade, people seem to be wishing for a democratic system that is truly responsive of the people--a system where senators are elected. The executive is truly separate from the legislature. Recall isn't necessary because MPs are elected every two years. Proportional representation isn't required because the regions are balanced out by an equal senate. Where elected committees approve judicial appointments. Where elected officials aren't whipped into towing the party line every time, where they have a free vote, truly representative of their constituents. Where the head of state is directly elected by the people.

Hmmm ... gee, what country has a system like that?

Has Prime Minister Stephen Harper got your attention?