Will Harper once again appoint Fortier to the Senate?

[normanchateau]

Days after being elected in 2006, Harper appointed his close personal friend and former campaign manager Michael Fortier to the Senate then promptly made Fortier an unelected cabinet Minister.

"Harper — who campaigned on a promise of an elected senate — said Fortier would be appointed to the senate for the duration of the current minority government on the condition that he runs for office in the next federal election. Harper called Mr. Fortier's move to the Senate as “a temporary appointment” that doesn't interfere with the Tories' plans for an elected senate."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...cialNewTory2006

Harper kept his promise and Fortier has indeed quit the Senate to run for a seat in Quebec. However, it now looks like Fortier stands no chance of winning that seat.

"However, at a news conference earlier Friday, Harper had refused to rule out a replay of his Fortier nomination. On his first day in office, Feb. 6, 2006, Harper named the Montreal businessman to the Senate and immediately made him public works minister. Recent polls suggest that Tory hopes of big gains in the province are being wiped away, and that Harper may even wind up with fewer members elected from Quebec this time around.

He was asked twice at the news conference Friday whether he would rule out installing yet another unelected senator in his cabinet.

Harper twice declined to do so."

“I’m not going to start announcing who I’m appointing to cabinet in the middle of an election campaign,” he said.

http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/canadavotes/news...10/7045601.html

I guess when Harper announced that Fortier's appointment to the Senate was temporary, he meant that it was temporary until the next time he appointed him to Senate once again.

Mere days after becoming Prime Minister in 2006, Harper sleazily appointed Fortier. Will Harper begin his second term by once again sleazily appointing the unelected Fortier to cabinet? Will anyone be surprised if he does

or are Harper supporters resigned to a sleazy replay of 2006?

[kengs333]

Only PMs can make appointments...

[Vancouver King]

Quebec's isolation, again, is a distinct possibility. Will the country go through new separation turmoil? It pains me to admit that representation by appointment is better than the alternative of no Quebec cabinet presence at all.

[cybercoma]

Since Harper has to follow the current set of rules for the Senate, perhaps he should appoint someone from the NDP... oh wait...

[whowhere]

Quebec's isolation, again, is a distinct possibility. Will the country go through new separation turmoil? It pains me to admit that representation by appointment is better than the alternative of no Quebec cabinet presence at all.

Hmm, harper's alterior motive of luring quebec voters to vote conservative?

[Bryan]

This is a typical FTW attitude of Quebec. The Fortier appointment was a good thing. It gave them a cabinet minister. Instead they tried to point to it as a scandal.

If they win this time around, I think the Conservatives should say "screw you". You want people in cabinet, ELECT them. You want to keep playing this childish game with the protest vote that can't ever get anything for you, go ahead. Now go away so the grown ups can govern the country.

[Smallc]

This is a typical FTW attitude of Quebec. The Fortier appointment was a good thing. It gave them a cabinet minister. Instead they tried to point to it as a scandal.

They already had cabinet ministers. At least 3 Other ones in fact. It was just another thing that Harper said he wouldn't do and then went ahead and did.

[normanchateau]

This is a typical FTW attitude of Quebec. The Fortier appointment was a good thing. It gave them a cabinet minister. Instead they tried to point to it as a scandal.

Perhaps it was viewed as scandalous because Harper had previously claimed that senators should be elected.

Or perhaps it was viewed as scandalous because Fortier is Harper's close personal friend and former campaign manager.

Perhaps it was viewed as scandalous because Harper campaigned for the 2006 election on a platform of accountability.

Tomorrow Quebecers will hold Harper accountable as they deliver their verdict on Harper Cabinet Ministers Fortier and Blackburn.

I wonder if Harper supporters will view it as a good thing if Harper once again appoints the unelected Fortier to Cabinet. My guess is that they won't object as any bending over to Quebec is viewed as the price which must be paid in yet another attempt to win a majority.

[g_bambino]

Only PMs can make appointments...

Wrong.

[Alta4ever]

They already had cabinet ministers. At least 3 Other ones in fact. It was just another thing that Harper said he wouldn't do and then went ahead and did.

That wasn't the problem what was the problem was that there was no representation from montreal, vancover or Toronto, the three largest canadian cities. So right or wrong, Harper made sure at they had representation in the CPC government.

[jdobbin]

That wasn't the problem what was the problem was that there was no representation from montreal, vancover or Toronto, the three largest canadian cities. So right or wrong, Harper made sure at they had representation in the CPC government.

So in other words, expect Fortier back in the Senate and cabinet? Will he promise to run again in a byelection or are we through with that idea?

[Smallc]

That wasn't the problem what was the problem was that there was no representation from montreal, vancover or Toronto, the three largest canadian cities. So right or wrong, Harper made sure at they had representation in the CPC government.

Well it would have been just fine....had he not railed against it earlier.

[Alta4ever]

So in other words, expect Fortier back in the Senate and cabinet? Will he promise to run again in a byelection or are we through with that idea?

I guess we will all see what Harper decides to do this time.

But they did keep their words and Micheal did resign and run.

[independent]

I guess we will all see what Harper decides to do this time.

But they did keep their words and Micheal did resign and run.

If Harper forms the government I fully support him doing anything he has to do to get a strong cabinet. It is also very important to get all regions represented in Cabinet.

[Mr.Canada]

If Harper forms the government I fully support him doing anything he has to do to get a strong cabinet. It is also very important to get all regions represented in Cabinet.

I would love to see him completely ignore the areas don't vote any MP's in.

Ignore any request from Toronto, Mtl or Vancouver or move slowly. Pay attention to the areas that voted the PM in. That's what the Quebecois PM's do, ignore the west unless it comes to our oil sand money. Funny how everyone is quick to condemn the oil sands put they have no problem taking the oil money.

[Alta4ever]

I would love to see him completely ignore the areas don't vote any MP's in.

Ignore any request from Toronto, Mtl or Vancouver or move slowly. Pay attention to the areas that voted the PM in. That's what the Quebecois PM's do, ignore the west unless it comes to our oil sand money. Funny how everyone is quick to condemn the oil sands put they have no problem taking the oil money.

What would be the point in this if the CPC get in they are suppose to govern all of Canada not just the areas that voted for them. These regions like montreal, toronto, vancover and ect need representation inside the governmening party. If you act vindictive your further alienate these people and they are less likely to give you the benfit if thdoubt the next time.

We sould not be playing those types of regionally divisive politics, it does nothing but weaken the country.

[jdobbin]

I guess we will all see what Harper decides to do this time.

But they did keep their words and Micheal did resign and run.

And if he appoints Fortier again, do you think he will run again at the earliest opportunity or will he wait till the next general election? How do you feel about that? How do you think you would feel if the Liberals did it? Be honest.

[Alta4ever]

And if he appoints Fortier again, do you think he will run again at the earliest opportunity or will he wait till the next general election? How do you feel about that? How do you think you would feel if the Liberals did it? Be honest.

I have no idea what fortier will do, or what Harper will do. Its also not about what I feel its about what montreal feels about this.

[jdobbin]

I have no idea what fortier will do, or what Harper will do. Its also not about what I feel its about what montreal feels about this.

You don't think rejection in the House of Commons says what they feel about it?

[Alta4ever]

You don't think rejection in the House of Commons says what they feel about it?

Nope I bet that if you had senate elections many provinces would elect the opposite of what is in the House.

[jdobbin]

Nope I bet that if you had senate elections many provinces would elect the opposite of what is in the House.

The Quebec government rejects elections. No election will be held there that won't be challenged and won in the Supreme Court. The amending formula is clear that a change like that has to have the approval of the government of that region.

So, Harper won't have an election there and if he wants Fortier back, he will have to appoint him. I'd say that it appears like he has been rejected as an elected official in Montreal and unless he wants to run again for the Commons, his only choice for a job in Ottawa is a Senate appointment.

[Alta4ever]

The Quebec government rejects elections. No election will be held there that won't be challenged and won in the Supreme Court. The amending formula is clear that a change like that has to have the approval of the government of that region.

So, Harper won't have an election there and if he wants Fortier back, he will have to appoint him. I'd say that it appears like he has been rejected as an elected official in Montreal and unless he wants to run again for the Commons, his only choice for a job in Ottawa is a Senate appointment.

I was speaking hypothetically.

[jdobbin]

I was speaking hypothetically.

Which makes me say hypothetically that if Fortier is rejected tonight, the only way he is getting back into the cabinet is by appointment to the Senate.

Round, round we go if that is the case. I don't like not having a cabinet minister unavailable for Question Period.

[blueblood]

Which makes me say hypothetically that if Fortier is rejected tonight, the only way he is getting back into the cabinet is by appointment to the Senate.

Round, round we go if that is the case. I don't like not having a cabinet minister unavailable for Question Period.

i agree, i could care less about fortier, it makes the cpc look bad.

The Liberals are shut out of western canadian rural ridings, do they appoint senators from western rural ridings into cabinet?

Edmonton and Regina elected a Liberal when the Libs were in power and they got a seat in Cabinet. If Vancouver, Toronto, and Mtl. did the same, they can get their MP in cabinet too.

[jdobbin]

i agree, i could care less about fortier, it makes the cpc look bad.

The Liberals are shut out of western canadian rural ridings, do they appoint senators from western rural ridings into cabinet?

Edmonton and Regina elected a Liberal when the Libs were in power and they got a seat in Cabinet. If Vancouver, Toronto, and Mtl. did the same, they can get their MP in cabinet too.

When Axworthy was the only MP in the west, he was the only cabinet minister from the west with a portflio.