Senator Tony Dean

Senator Tony Dean Some of my senatorial colleagues worried aloud recently that the summer deadline for passing legislation that would legalize and strictly regulate cannabis is too tight. Based on old Senate debating habits, they may have an argument. But given the importance of this legislation for public health and harm reduction, there are improvements we can make to the way we do business that can ensure both expeditious passage and sober second thought. Bill C-45 is in the final stage of…

Senator Tony Dean Canada’s Senate has taken some knocks over the past few years and, as recent events show, it still is. These issues have rubbed salt into public disenchantment with a 150-year-old institution and Senators who are still working with 150-year-old job descriptions. The stakes are high because we are talking about Canadians’ confidence in one of the country’s most important democratic institutions. But there are signs of a brighter future for the red chamber. Without this a numb…