A Modest Proposal for the Parliament of Canada

This short work proposes that backbenchers be removed, benches and all, from the Canadian House of Commons, in the interests of modernity and efficiency. A special “Backbencher’s Heaven,” can be set up not far from the Parliaments buildings. There, backbenchers could spend most of their time in up-to-date offices dealing with the voters in their ridings. At the same time, the rest of the Members of Parliament (the ones that really matter) could have the space to install and use current data collection and display systems (built into their desks), the better to debate bills with the facts at their fingertips. A giant leap in productivity is predicted.