We, the undersigned petition the Senate to stop relying on its written letters of references in the appointment of new Senators, which unfairly discriminate against Canadians from all walks of life from having equitable participation in this process and fair representation.

We, as Canadians, cannot truly say that we live in a democracy unless our political institutions can reflect our diversity as a society. This includes social, economic, gender, ethnicity, race, physical impairment and other boundaries that persist in our society.

The Trudeau government's initiative to embark on a course to facilitate a new mechanism to appoint independent Senators, irrespective of political party affiliations, provided new hope that our Senate might begin to reflect and represent our diversity.

By reflecting diversity, the Senate would be able to challenge the clique of lawyers who have conserved power and controlled the direction of our government through the House of Commons.

In spite of being a House that is elected, lawyers and their biases control our Members of Parliament through political party whips.

Many Canadians have been left to feel a sense of alienation and passive resignation from the direction of our society, as lawyers in society strive to work on behalf of the “rich and powerful”.

In many respects, Canada today is not the “Just Society” that Justin's father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, spoke about as Canada's potential to become a role model to the world, when he had referred to it during the Liberal Leadership Convention acceptance speech in 1968. Indeed, the disparity between the "haves" and "have nots" is worsening.

Many Canadians and people around the world have also become frustrated at a culture of elite-driven politics preventing the voices of the many to realize progressive social change in matters of the economy and the environment.

Unfortunately, the prevailing Justin Trudeau government's Senate initiative, which could have rejuvenated a substantive direction toward the Just Society, is being kiboshed. This kiboshing has been implemented by preventing anyone from applying to become a Senator who does not have both personal references and excellent writing skills, and who is also legally well-versed in Senate business and its relation to constitutional matters.

Specifically, referees of Senate candidates are being asked to explain in writing, the candidate's “solid knowledge of the legislative process and Canada's constitution” along with other intimate knowledge of the Senate. How many Canadians can speak about someone who they believe to be an excellent candidate with such restrictions?

Canadians who can vouch for the character of a potential Senate appointment but who are not excellent writers and who are not extremely knowledgeable about constitutional law in relationship to the Senate have been excluded by the Senate Appointment Process.

The requirements of the written letter of references further favour the perpetuation of the control of the Senate by the prevailing ruling elites; and denies Canadians who continue to be marginalized by both the Senate and House of Commons from being heard and represented in the alleged efforts to rejuvenate the Senate.

We, as Canadians ask that Written Letters of References be dropped from the application process to become a Senator and that references be used only for personal character and verified orally in the same manner as the process to apply for the Order of Canada. This will ensure that all Canadians will be able to vouch for the character of a Senate candidate irrespective of their abilities to express themselves in writing or their needing intimate knowledge of the Senate.

Only the candidate who is applying to become a Senate ought to have sufficient knowledge to become a Senator. He or she ought to be able to be given an opportunity to present that knowledge in a non-prejudicial screening process, thus recognizing that the ability of a Canadian to become a Senator ought not to rely on a candidate having access to references who have intimate knowledge of Senate operations, and its role in Canada's constitutional system.

New Senators should be free thinking, be of character i.e. integrity, empathy, and unemcubered by any potentially oppressive affiliations to organizations whether political parties or other organizations.

As individual candidates, new Senators ought to reflect the diversity of Canada -- social economically across "class", possible physical impairment and otherwise -- and in so doing, hold the House of Commons as a bastion of affluent lawyers and their clientele interests -- accountable in the need to represent marginalized groups and regions across Canada.

New Senators ought to be free-thinkers and not linked to organizational affiliations and associates as is the current prevailing process which favours candidates who have references and who have gained the ability to express themselves in writing through their affluent Higher Education (including Faculties of Law) which is not representative of Canadians as a whole.

New Senators ought not be linked to the in-groups of various ruling organizational cliques as referred to in the prevailing Senate application process which include having experience in the “legislative process” à la lawyers; “public service”; community-based interests and lobby groups; and “professionals” as outlined by the Senate.