Three Liberals, two from the West, announced two weeks ago that they will try to have legislation approved reversing Louis Riel’s conviction in 1885 for treason.
It would name July 15 “Louis Riel Day”, but not make it a statutory holiday.
Riel has been an issue for the Bloc QuŽbecois, who consistently refer to his hanging as an example of how Canada has treated French Canadians outside Quebec.
Last week, Quebec MP Denis Coderre, Winnipeg MP Reg Alcock and Alberta MŽtis senator Thelma Chalifoux released a draft bill for consultation before formally submitting it to Parliament.
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One clause would reverse his Aug. 1, 1885 conviction. “Louis Riel is hereby deemed to be innocent of the charge of high treason.”
And it would recognize his role in naming Manitoba and leading it into Confederation. “Louis Riel is hereby recognized as a Father of Confederation, the founder of Manitoba and champion of the cause of the MŽtis people.”
Filling senate seats
Reform party Senate critic Bill Gilmour recently produced a private member’s bill that would force the federal government to respect the results of provincial elections for vacant Senate seats.
Alberta has legislation allowing province-wide votes on Senate selection and the provincial government says it will hold elections this fall.
Ontario is considering similar legislation, although British Columbia has allowed an election bill to lapse. Gilmour said forcing the federal government to accept the electors’ choice for Senate vacancies would give the Senate democratic legitimacy. “As it stands now, our Senate is loaded with partisan political failures.”
But the governing Liberals firmly oppose any such legislation.
While he has been filling the Upper Chamber with friends and party supporters, restoring the Liberal majority in the process, prime minister Jean ChrŽtien insists he too favors Senate reform and elections.
However, it would have to be part of a broader package of reforms, he said, rather than the piecemeal Reform approach.
