In related developments, sources at CTV reveal the Senate is “unelected”;
Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to fill 18 vacancies in the unelected Senate with Conservative loyalists before Christmas, CTV News has learned.
Sources said Harper is concerned the Senate committee system isn’t working properly because there are only 20 Conservative senators sitting in the Liberal-dominated Red Chamber.
But according to insiders, what really drove Harper to move quickly and fill the vacant Senate seats is the possibility of losing political power in January at the hands of the Liberal-NDP coalition
I know. It came as a shock to me, too.
As we all know, every senator before this point has been elected and non partisan…
So, how much for a senate seat in Canada?
/just askin
Poor optics. Bad politics. Sometimes you have to stand on principle. This reeks of Manning and Stornaway.
What choice does he have? The daily grung and threats coming from the “grung party” makes this an act of preservation for democracy. Temporarily, of course.
I think it is better to fill them. Elected Senate has it’s good points but so does appointment if done properly. The thought of Ms. May even dreaming about a Senate seat…
What was that big news story about the Governor of Illinois today? SENATE Seat Sale!
eehHaw – must be holiday season!
This is very much a question of functionality. Having 20 Tories in the Senate makes the committee system unworkable and will only get worse. Hopefully this brings further attention to the Senate reform cause though.
What do you expect him to do Jon? Based on the rhetoric coming out of King Iggy today, do you really expect Harper to leave them for the coalition to fill because some may view it as bad politics? We elected him, he has the right to fill the senate positions.
You know what is bad politics, the NDP/Libbers creating a constitutional crises because they couldn’t stand losing $30M out of $216M (less than 10%)in election entitlements.
That is exactly what I would do in his position. He has tried being Mr. “Nice Guy” and constantly gets slagged by the MSM.
The Axis of Weasels would not support an elected senate so he has no choice.
Trudeau had 2500 patronage appointments in his tenure as PM. 18 seats, is hardly partisan given that the Libs still have 63 seats that were, hmmm, appointed to the Senate by Liberals. The reforms can include their election at a different time, but Canada needs Loyalist Conservatives rather than Liberal socialist, commies, and Separatists to fill those seats.
I am so happy that he decided to fill those vacancies. I wrote him last week begging him to do just that. If the Liberals should get back into government they will fill them with more Libs then we will get nothing passed.
There is alot of talk over at CTV about Iggy’s interview with Duffy. Seems he is threatening the PM about bringing him down if that budget is not in tune with the Libs. Looks like that coalition is still alive. Don’t think Iggy has even taken up the PM’s offer of input. All about power and entitlements.
Pick me, pick me.
I’ll make every liberano in the red chamber hate me in no time.
[ .. at the hands of the Liberal-NDP coalition.
Make that – the Separatists-Liberals-NDP coupalition.
If nobodys electing them , what can you do ? The liberals would fill it with their cronies in a week. Craig Oliver and Mansbridge are probably pissed off , but who cares?
At the end of the CTV article –
“Harper would ask anyone he appoints to agree to step down and run in a Senate election if new legislation is ever implemented.”
A far cry from what the Liberals have ever done or proposed. Does anyone think that the Liberals would do likewise? Uh, yeah right.
Prudent move to fill senate seats, because of the current coalition / Iggy threat.
If Harper has the option open, he should also fill the vacant seat on the Supreme Court as well as any lower courts,lest the troika coalition becomes the government, and who knows,in that case Louise Arbour might resurface in an ermine fringed robe.
He’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. What do they expect – he’s going to appoint a bunch of Liberals to an already unbalanced lot?
As soon as the inevitable uproar comes he ought to just stand up and say – “This is the system that is in place and what I have to work with. No, it’s not a ‘fair’ system just as it wasn’t fair when the Liberals appointed all their cronies. It needs to be changed but every time the issue of change gets raised you all go crazy about that too…well it is time to put up and shut up or let the process of revamping the senate move forward.”
VanIslander nails it…
Thank God we still have the SCOC with Elected Judges, I’d hate to think that Chretien had the power to Appoint Judges that agreed with him and the Liberal doctrine.
I also wrote the Prime Minister last week pleading, please, please fill the senate.
I am secretly hoping he puts Don Cherry in the Senate.He is a very deserving Canadian and it would drive Quebec crazy.
I think he should put the most radical rigth wingers he can find:
Yvon Cornoyer
Gordie Howe
Mike Bossy
Maurice Richard
Guy Lafleur
Bernie Geoffrion
Mickey Redmond
Glenn Anderson
Wayne Babych
Dino Ciccarelli
Real Cloutier
Russ Courtnall
Kevin Dineen
Theoren Fleury
Reggie Leach
Dave Lumley
Rick Middleton
Cam Neely
Jim Peplinski
Stephane Richer
Bobby Schmautz
Duane Sutter
Dave Taylor
Pat Verbeek
My God, do you people have no shame? How on earth is Elizabeth May supposed to get HER promised senate seat now? Huh? Have you no feelings?
Iggy and the Stooges will never be the government of Canada.
Call another election – lets go back to the polls and give harper the majority he needs to finish them off.
I think someone should start a mail-in campaign on behalf of me.
He’s damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. What do they expect – he’s going to appoint a bunch of Liberals to an already unbalanced lot?
As soon as the inevitable uproar comes he ought to just stand up and say – “This is the system that is in place and what I have to work with. No, it’s not a ‘fair’ system just as it wasn’t fair when the Liberals appointed all their cronies. It needs to be changed but every time the issue of change gets raised you all go crazy about that too…well it is time to put up and shut up or let the process of revamping the senate move forward.”
Posted by: VanIslander at December 11, 2008 12:23 AM
VanIslander, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. My hat is off to you, sir.
It sure as hell ain’t like Harper didn’t try.
He has no other realistic choice now.
You can bet, given even half a chance, Iggy will pack the joint first chance he gets.
Senator Ralph Klein for Newfoundland sounds like fun, not smart but fun.
Kate! Shameless self promotion!
Can anyone picture a good old Sask girl in the senate, bragging about the bambi and the sweet smell of a polaris two stroke?
VanIslander – Slam Dunk !
I did not mean old like your old I meant it like you know….
Aw crap Foot in mouth
Sorry bout that.
Melvin @ 12:53
Whoo hooo hoo, you are a genius! They would all be put down onto their “keesters”!
Great suggestion as sarcastic as it was…
Someone tell me what the hell he was waiting for up until now please?
I think all Canadians were dismayed that the coupalation was using senate vacancies as bribery. Also, news that the BLOC demanded 6 senate seats !!!!
Not to mention Elizabeth May already bragging about she was going to be “the only senator with 3 million votes.”
This all made a further mockery of the Upper House which is already a mockery.
Touche Prime Minister Harper all is fair in politics and sword fighting. Load the senate with conservatives while you have the opportunity,
and make sure the west is well represented. It’s
not like they have any real power anyway, the senate should be elected, this fundamental change and shift of power, balanced power on the federal level could go along way to fixing this country’s
problems. The senate should be able to over rule
the house of commons in order to balance power among the regions. This is the missing link that would bring fairness and unity to the country.
I suspect she wouldn’t accept, but she’d sure keep the senate chamber awake.
Of course, I’m talking about Deb Gray.
Something to be said for naming senators who believe in senate reform.
Senate, present;
Lib 58
Cons 21
PC 3
Indep 6
Vacant 17
[ Currently, there are 58 Liberal Senators and 21 Conservatives with 17 vacancies. By the end of 2009, there will be 13 vacancies, including eight Liberal retirements, two Conservatives, one Progressive Conservative and two Independents.
By 2010, there will be four retirements, including three Liberals and one Conservative. If all of the 17 current vacancies as well as the 17 upcoming vacancies due to retirements are filled with Conservatives, there would be 52 Tories in the Red Chamber, 47 Liberals, two Progressive Conservatives and four Independents by December 2010.] Hill Times
Cons 52
Lib 47
PC 2
Indep 4
I used to enjoy watching seagulls fight over a scrap of food. I figure Harper should leave one seat open … you know, fairness and all of that.
Consider:
Vacant seats 18
Newfoundland and Labrador (1),
New Brunswick (2)
Nova Scotia (3),
Prince Edward Island (1)
Quebec (4),
Ontario (2),
Yukon (1)
Saskatchewan (1),
British Columbia (3)
but
Province or Territory Population per Senator (2006 census) ↓
British Columbia 6 685,581
Alberta 6 548,391
Ontario 24 506,678
Quebec 24 314,422
Manitoba 6 191,400
Saskatchewan 6 161,359
Nova Scotia 10 91,346
Newfoundland and Labrador 6 84,244
New Brunswick 10 72,999
Northwest Territories 1 41,464
Prince Edward Island 4 33,962
Yukon Territory 1 30,372
Nunavut 1 29,474
Total/Average 105 301,075
So why not appoint Don Cherry senator of PEI, and Deb Gray senator of Newfieland, what have they done for us lately? Then select the requisite number of senators from the west. Even up the representation by population for the west and kill two birds with one stone.
If the leftards are gonna squawk give them something to squawk about. I mean the great tradition of democratic voting does not exactly seem to work for the lieberals.
About time!
After their crowning of their leader, the Liberals certainly must understand acting out of need for unusual times.
Proof positive that Harper is on the defensive. Without the threat of the coalition hanging over the country, there would be no logical reason to fill the Senate and give Liberals some added ammunition, since even if all the vacant seats went Conservative, the Liberals would still have a Senate majority.
So it’s a defensive measure. Problem is I’m not sure if this move provokes the opposition to band together again just when they were starting to fall apart. Not really sure what to make of this…
Eugene@3:33 AM
What you make of this? I think that you indeed know the answer. PMSH is expecting the worst and preparing to save his country FROM THEM, period.
Inexperienced egotists, are about to take over our economy and divide this country. Battten down the hatches….
Please please, don’t stack the Senate with 18 more Lawyers…Ezra excepted of course.
Also keep in mind 11 Liberal senators are set to retire in 2009 — it is why the Liberals are in a fanatical state to regain power, thus instead of 19 seats open by the end of next year 29 would be vacant if he did not fill them now.
If the Liberals seized power in January and the positions were not filled, they would have control over the senate for another generation, thus eliminating the possibility of any senate reform.
My personal belief is that the upper house should be eliminated. Waste of resources and an extra cost to the Canadian taxpayer.
Breaking News…This Just in
“insiders” report CTV Ottawa Bureau News editor substitutes own biased opinion in news copy under the pseudonym of “insiders”….pix at 11
Yes fill them & fill them Now!
Because you can Bet your Bippy that if the liberals get back in the drivers seat they wont hesitate a Nano Second to fill those seats.
About time. I also wrote the PM to fill the Senate seats “yesterday”.
The system of appointing Senators is what we have now so we have to work with it that way until it is changed. The Liberals would load it if they got power, it’s a tradition with the masters of patronage so they can simply STFU.
Cherry would be great, so would Deb Gray.He’ll have no problem choosing good people to fill the seats. Lew McKenzie would be great also, as would broadcaster Lowell Green.
It will give the bozos something to tall about besides taking down the government.
Suggestions:
John Reynolds
Charles Adler
Mike Rutherford
Mike Harris
Preston Manning
Andre Arthur
Lucien Bouchard (Yes the man is now very Conservative minded (Again) and could spark positive Quebec debate)
Mark Steyn
Ralph Klein
Kate “SDA”
Joanne C. (Blue Like You)
Kathy Shaidle (Five feet of Fury)
BTW,
Funny how CTV.ca (See Link above) chooses not to open this particular report for public comments…If the story picks up steam and public opinion is going to be revealed as at least 50% negative, you can bet CTV will open up debate.
Poor MSM/lefties have taken a lot of heat with “polls gone wrong” these past few weeks…Better thread carefully.
Every one of the western vacancies should be filled with those who have “western separatist” leanings!
I’d love to see Ron Maclean on CBC HNIC have to call Don Cherry, Senator Cherry.
And then appoint him as head of the committee to reform the CBC.