And just like that, 3 senate appointments
- Josee Vernier, a Quebec MP
- Larry Smith, former CFL commish, former senator
- Fabian Manning, former NFLD MP, former senator
“Our Government will continue to push for a more democratic, accountable and effective Senate,” the Prime Minister in a statement released to the media.With a small Quebec caucus, Harper just appointed many of them to the cabinet, and also needed a bit more Quebec representation in the senate. Fine. For now...
Because, Mr. Prime Minister, this is the last set of appointments I'll forgive you on.
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13 comments:
This should be the last ones he needs, notwithstanding the Liberal that just retired, he should have a majority in the Senate now, and can push through his reforms.
“No ministry in Canada in the future can do what they have done in Canada before – they cannot, with the view of carrying any measure or of strengthening the party, attempt to overrule the independent opinion of the upper house by filling it with its partisans and political supporters.” ~ Sir John A. Macdonald
Jebus Fraking Cripsy,... wasn't Raging PMS all for an elected Senate and Senate Reform and at the bear, minimum appointing people who had passed some sort of electoral process when possible. Now he is appoint people whom the People of Canada have CLREARLY REJECTED Well, we can add this to Raging PMS's stack of lies and hypocrisies.
There will be around 15 senate vacancies coming up within the next 4 yrs. Do you think the PM should not fill these. Until the Premiers agree to senate elections, or term limits, why not make all the appointments, to tie the hands of any future liberal/ndp govt.
It just rewards Quebec voters who get to have their cake and eat it too. They can protest and still get representation.
I admire Larry Smith, but I don't think this should have happened.
We are a long way from the Reform Party spirit.
Why will you forgive him on this round of appointments? They are not required for the senate to function, and all 3 of them were just defeated by the people of Quebec in the election. This is a step backwards for democracy in this country (that you can lose a seat but become a senator 2 weeks later)and should not be forgiven.
If for no other reason than the fact that these appointments incensed Jack Layton, Paul Dewar, and the grotesque Libby Davies they get a five star rating from me.
I don't agree with these appointments at all. I worked hard for a Montreal riding and I have great respect for Larry Smith, but this is not at all in the spirit of the Reform Party.
It means Quebec can register a protest vote and then get represented anyway. Eat your cake and have it too.
PM Harper should have appointed other people to represent Quebec.
Parliament resumes June 2nd and committees in the Senate will be reappointed but with our 3 new senators that gives the PM a majority, and chairmanship of said committees. That means bills will get passed, and senate reform can start to take place. If Canadians are as upset as the tv honchos tried to make out, they will petition their premiers to pass senate election laws.
The vacancies were 2 in Que and 1 in NFLD, so who would you have named. And it is the GG who makes these appointments, on advise from the PM. Never heard the GG mentioned once during the so called outrage on the talk shows.
He has to continue appointing them until all the provinces elect their own. I hope the 8 year senate term does not star until ALL provinces have signed on and have a list of elected senators for the PM to choose from.
Rob C
I guess it's goodbye to Senate reform, eh?
Because, Mr. Prime Minister, this is the last set of appointments I'll forgive you on.
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Yeah right, just like you cons forgave him for buying GM, interfering in free market takeovers and expanding the size of government yearly.
Face it, you're bootlickers.
Hey zorro, did you vote against any of the three new senators. Neither did I, only the voters in 3 ridings voted against them. As they were not running for the Senate, no one voted against them.
We needed a majority in the Senate so the PM could pass all the bills that have been presented to reform the senate. And those 3 vacancies had to be in place before June 2nd so we could get chairmanship of committees.
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