In a surprise move, Conservative Senators defeated Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act 43 to 32 without debate and before being sent to committee. This action on November 16th is very rare. The last time something like this happened was 70 years ago when a bill passed by elected representatives in the House of Commons was voted down in second read in the Senate.

Now in the weeks leading to the climate summit in Cancun, the Canadian government has further demonstrated its disinterest in meaningful action on one of the most pressing problem of our time.

This troubling development also sets a dangerous precedent, calling to questions future legislation supported by elected Members of Parliament.

I urge you to contact your MP, the Prime Minister, the leaders of the opposition parties and Senators, and Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate. Write letters to the editor. Let citizens know about this dangerous precedent on Facebook and Twitter. Ask the questions:

• Why did unelected Conservative Senators delay due process on legislation supported by elected representatives?
• Why did they call the surprise vote without debate and committee review, when many opposition Senators were unavailable to vote?
• Why is Prime Minister Stephen Harper stacking the Senate with Conservative Senators, and not introducing legislation to enable Canadians to vote for Senators as he promised he would do during the 2004 election?
• Will unelected Conservative Senators choose this tactic to kill future legislation, supported by elected representatives, that Harper does not like?

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Senator Email Addresses

lebrem@sen.parl.gc.ca - Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate

mitchg@sen.parl.gc.ca - Senator Mitchell, defender of the bill

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