Scouts Canada took a blast from some senators yesterday over allegations the organization has taken a dictatorial turn in managing its operations.The long-running battle over the soul of Scouts Canada moved to Senate committee chambers as members of a 700-strong renegade group within Scouts made their pitch to stop a bill they say will slam the door on the grassroots.
Bill S-1001 is a controversial piece of legislation that dissident group Scouts eh! claims will be the end to Scouts Canada because it would entrench a top-down corporate structure.
What corporation isn't top-down? And why, exactly, is it any of the Senate's business how an independent company conducts its affairs?
Some senators around the committee table criticized Scouts Canada for lacking democracy."I would like to see democracy from the bottom up. I don't see here how an ordinary Scout can break into the circle," said Ontario Liberal Sen. Lorna Milne.
This is rich. A bunch of unelected political hacks stirring from their torpor to lecture people about democracy. Next they'll be preaching about the value of showing up for work.
Comments (2)
The senators were just doing their job. That is, they were doing a committee study of a bill presented, at the request of Scouts Canada, by Senator Con Di Nino. Committee study is standard practice between 2nd and 3rd reading of any bill.
This was the bill to enable the reorganization which the controversy you mention concerned. It has now received third reading and been sent on to the House of Commons for consideration there.
Posted by Senator Joan Fraser | December 8, 2006 2:21 PM
Posted on December 8, 2006 14:21
Points taken, Senator. I've posted a reply here.
Posted by gnotalex | December 8, 2006 8:12 PM
Posted on December 8, 2006 20:12