Monthly Archives: November 2013

And nothing changes

Posted on November 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

45adc339c8799cb8b5104bade9230c6aAs you find from the table in three of the four by-elections the winning candidate won by a plurality and only one got a majority. Combined the winning candidates got less then 50% of the votes cast. With the Dual Electoral System the top two get elected and the votes cast for all others will go to one of these two elected candidates. In the by-elections the top two candidates got 85% of the votes cast so those voters get represented by their first choice and the other 15% of the vote will go to one of these so those voters get represented in Parliament by a secondary choice for MP.

Elected

Top two

Others

Bourassa

48%

79%

21%

Brandon-souris

44%

87%

13%

Provencher

58%

88%

12%

Toronto-centre

49%

85%

15%

All four ridings

49%

85%

15%

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The Nuclear Option

Posted on November 24, 2013 | Leave a comment

nuclear-bomb-explosion

The nuclear option / CNN

I remember the nomination of Judge Bork to the Supreme Court by Pres. Ronald Reagan in the 80s. The nomination was opposed by the Democratic majority in the Senate and was rejected by the Senate. During this process I remember thinking that the Senate has every right to confirm the appointment, every right to reject the appointment, but no right to delay or abstain from making a decision on the appointment. With the Senate rule requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster this gives the minority the ability to block a decision made by a majority of the Senate. The majority has every right to pass a motion and every right to reject a motion but the minority has no right to prevent the majority from doing one or the other.

In the Senate rules dealing with nominations there should be five set days on which the Senate shall vote to confirm or reject any nomination.

  • The default day shall be the first daily sitting of the Senate that is 30 days after the nomination by the president.
  • By the vote of 67 senators the nomination vote will be the first daily sitting of the Senate that is 10 days after the nomination.
  • By a vote of 60 senators the nomination vote will be the first daily sitting of the Senate 20 days after the nomination.
  • By a vote of 34 senators the nomination will be voted on the first daily sitting of the Senate 45 days after the nomination.
  • By a vote of 50 senators the nomination will be voted on the first daily sitting of the Senate 60 days after the nomination.

This process gives you a default vote on a nomination 30 days after the appointment. By super majorities the Senate can vote earlier than the 30 days and by minorities can hold the vote later than those 30 days. The Senate shall hold a confirmation vote on a nomination on one of five set days they being 10 days, 20 days, 30 days, 45 days, and 60 days after the appointment by the president. If you wish to keep needing 60 votes to get to a vote on a nomination then have the rules state you need 60 votes to confirm not a simple majority.

The power of Democracy is vested in the majority and in the minority it’s principle

From the National Congress webpage.

Acting president  Barry Aulis

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Disciplinary motion

Posted on November 23, 2013 | Leave a comment

rob-fordShould municipal councils have the authority to suspend or remove from office any municipal official? Yes!  From least to severest a municipal council should be able to impose the following penalties on those who hold a public office in that municipality.

  • A motion of reprimand which is the proverbial slap on the wrist but an official one done by an absolute majority on the council which for the Toronto city council is 23 out of the 44 councillors.
  • A motion of censure that imposes a fine with the defendant losing their salary until the amount equals or exceeds the fine. This is to be done by an absolute 60% majority that for Toronto is 27 votes on the city council.
  • A motion of suspension that of course suspends an official from office for a temporary period with or without pay for that period of time. This motion is to be passed by an absolute two-thirds majority for Toronto that’s 30 votes.
  • A motion of dismissal that shall remove the defendant from office and this is to be passed by an absolute three quarters majority that for Toronto’s city council is 33 votes.

Of course Toronto’s city Councillors can be subjected to a disciplinary motion as well. A Councillor can’t vote on their own motion leaving you with 43 members voting. All motions requiring one less vote to pass except a motion of dismissal.

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Les Nessman

Posted on November 12, 2013 | Leave a comment

les nessman1The Les Nessman of Revenue Canada has just called. Naughty, naughty, you got caughty!

You have made deduction claims that you’re not entitled to so what happens ? There’s an investigation to establish the amount you owe then a review if you dispute that amount. Why couldn’t that have done with Senators Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin, and Patrick Brazeau? Establish the amount of fraudulent expense claims for each and they lose their full weekly salary until the loss of income equals or exceeds that amount. No RCMP, No PMO, and No Stephen Harper tossing more conservatives under the bus!

Using Senator Brazeau as an example he owes $48,745 for inappropriate expense claims. The base salary of a Senator is $135,200 annually or $2,600 a week so he loses his salary for 19 weeks or $49,400. A first offense you lose your salary and with a second then consider suspension. With a third offense suspension should always be the penalty.

Acting president Barry Aulis

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