Damaging a rebounding Senate
Much progress has been made toward legitimizing Canada’s Senate. The so-called Red Chamber is a less partisan battleground. Thanks to the effort of the government’s Senate representative, Senator Peter Harder, and others, the atmosphere and attitude seems more about work ethic and objectives as opposed to entitlement. Government legislation is going in, and in some cases being revised for the better.
Even Senate defenders and boosters would acknowledge the job is far from done, but, to quote Harder: “I think you’re seeing the Senate do what it has been asked to do.”
And then along comes Senator Don Meredith. And the chamber of sober second thought’s renaissance suffers a serious setback. Meredith, who has been found to have had a relationship with a teenaged girl. Ms. M was 16 when they met. They had a relationship that became sexual — sexual touching, Skype chats where she undressed and he masturbated. Meredith insists there was no sex until she was 18, but an investigation found there was an encounter just before Ms. M’s 18th birthday where the Senator briefly penetrated her, referring to it as a “teaser.”
Meredith and his lawyer argue no laws were broken. His actions were a sin, but not a crime. And so, they argue, the Senate has no grounds to remove him. On the surface, they appear to be right. The age of consent is 16. Ottawa police laid no charges.
But should that be where the bar is set? Should a man who groomed a teenager for sexual purposes really be sitting in the chamber? Taking part in efforts to improve government legislation and in the myriad of other chores the Senate attends? Being paid by Canadian taxpayers?
The answer, we hope, is no. Yes, Meredith has shown contrition and even begged forgiveness. But the one thing he hasn’t done is the honourable one — step down. By taking part in such immoral and unethical behaviour, he has demonstrated that he is not fit to hold office, even an appointed one.
Here’s the problem. There is no evidence the disgraced senator will do the right thing. The government doesn’t have the means to fire him. Neither do his senatorial colleagues. So what’s the answer?
They may not be able to fire him, but they can suspend him, as happened with Mike Duffy and other shady senators. They can do that for the remainder of this term, and again next term. But among the Senate’s jobs should be a more systemic solution.
Someone who has done the things Meredith has done does not have the right to hold public office, nor to be paid by taxpayers. Public trust and respect have not just been tarnished, but obliterated. Given his contrition, Meredith may deserve another shot at living a decent life, but not as a senator. That ship has sailed.