Senate appointments

mjp · December 2, 2008

there are 18 seats that are empty.. currently another 12 to open up during 2009 and 4 for 2010. total of 34 seats or 32.38% if the senate has to be replaced.

So do you think the NDP is not going want some of those seats???

It was mentioned at todays new conference about putting Elizabeth may into the senate... that would be interesting.

Harper was going to try to create pseudo elections for senate, and all that except, there is no boundary lines for districts or what not, and senate does not get constituency offices. that would have had to be created.

So do you think the NDP will get, lets say 4 seats in the senate as well????

nuff said on my ramblings, fire away.

Smallc · December 2, 2008

So do you think the NDP is not going want some of those seats??

No, they want to abolish it. They don't even accept the senator that they could have had.

fellowtraveller · December 8, 2008

There are 18 vacant Senate seats now, and there will be 30 by the end of 2009.

He wants provincial elections, and senator-in-waiting lists from which he will appoint them.

But... he'll lose that opportuinity if the coalition turfs him next month, and he must know that one of the very first things they;ll do is restock the place full of new Liberal, NDP and Bloc hacks.

What will he do?

Keepitsimple · December 8, 2008

Why would the Coalition do that? Stephane Dion is a man of great integrity.....and the Liberals are a party of principle. Why are people so cynical. Liberals will always do what's fair including the appointment of Senators.....they care about this great country. That damn Harper - waiting on all these senate vacancies so that the people can tell us what they prefer - by voting! Imagine - the common masses selecting Senators. It's so stupid. Liberals have always known what's best for the people. They'll take care of us...they care...they really, really care.

Edited December 8, 2008 by Keepitsimple

Jerry J. Fortin · December 8, 2008

Harper will not have the opportunity to do much with these seats.

fellowtraveller · December 8, 2008

Harper will not have the opportunity to do much with these seats.

How do you figure that?

The House and the Opposition are not involved in the Prime Ministers decisions to appoint Senators, if he chooses to do that.

Topaz · December 8, 2008

Why would the Coalition do that? Stephane Dion is a man of great integrity.....and the Liberals are a party of principle. Why are people so cynical. Liberals will always do what's fair including the appointment of Senators.....they care about this great country. That damn Harper - waiting on all these senate vacancies so that the people can tell us what they prefer - by voting! Imagine - the common masses selecting Senators. It's so stupid. Liberals have always known what's best for the people. They'll take care of us...they care...they really, really care.

I agree with you Keep. I've watched the senate committee meeting and they do bring respectability back to Ottawa after watching the Commons. I agree most people today are working and are too busy in their lives to know what is going on in Ottawa unless some friend or family mentions it. How many of them watch C-pac and see what`s happening in the Commons? Perhaps if Harper was them voted in then maybe the members of Commons should vote for the people because they are more in tune with the government than the voters.

cybercoma · December 8, 2008

The Senate is useless, what difference does it make what he does?

Smallc · December 8, 2008

The Senate is useless, what difference does it make what he does?

I wouldn't really say that. They make changes to bills and they also do a large amount of committee work. They have an important roll, they just need to be made more equal across the country.

jdobbin · December 8, 2008

What will he do?

Fill all 18 vacancies on a Friday late at night?

Topaz · December 8, 2008

The Senate is useless, what difference does it make what he does?

CY, have your ever watched the senate committees on TV?? If not, you should try it, you'll learn what the senate does and they are their for us, so no government gets too powerful.

Oleg Bach · December 8, 2008

CY, have your ever watched the senate committees on TV?? If not, you should try it, you'll learn what the senate does and they are their for us, so no government gets too powerful.

They over see the government because the senate is appointed behind private doors...by some very private guys that don't want the gov - screwing things up...oh boy - am I saying that there is a "shadow government" ....personally I believe that they exist - in every nation on earth since the begining. Canadians appointed to a senatorial postion have always earned that seat with the years of service in the private sector - these - People are very experienced and wise - and why they would want to stick May the Green lady in there is beyond me - it would be like taking a grade three kid and having them sit with university professors. :lol:

Nat · December 9, 2008

BC is voting on May 12, 2009 and from what Gordon Campbell has said that if the feds come up with the money process we will have a vote for the 3 vacant senate seats in BC.

M.Dancer · December 9, 2008

If the senate were to remain I would like it to be rep. by pop. by province, PR and have the ability to table bills but no ability to thwart the will of the Commons.

cybercoma · December 9, 2008

I wouldn't really say that. They make changes to bills and they also do a large amount of committee work. They have an important roll, they just need to be made more equal across the country.

There's hardly a role for partisanship in the committee work they do, nor the rounding of the edges on bills. We need an elected senate. I'm all for Jeffrey Simpson's idea of PR for the senate with Quebec senators getting a veto for anything to do with French language and culture. Democratic reforms are needed now, but it's not exciting enough of an issue for the news to cover. Also, when barely 60% of eligible voters go to the polls, it's obvious Canadians couldn't care less either.

August1991 · December 11, 2008

Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to fill 18 vacancies in the unelected Senate with Conservative loyalists before Christmas, CTV News has learned.
...

Still, it appears Harper hasn't completely backed away from his previous policy. An insider said Harper would ask anyone he appoints to agree to step down and run in a Senate election if new legislation is ever implemented.

CTV

Unelected? Who knew?

Watch for the MSM to criticize Harper for these nominations.

Edited December 11, 2008 by August1991

Sir Bandelot · December 11, 2008

I heard tonight that Harper is planning to fill up to 20 vacant senate seats with conservative partisans between now and December 22. So much for reform, eh?

jdobbin · December 11, 2008

I heard tonight that Harper is planning to fill up to 20 vacant senate seats with conservative partisans between now and December 22. So much for reform, eh?

Not surprised. What is funny is that he expects anyone he appoints to step down if elections ever happen. As if.

August1991 · December 11, 2008

Not surprised. What is funny is that he expects anyone he appoints to step down if elections ever happen. As if.

Sarcasm: Pointing to a Liberal pointing out how a Conservative is acting as a Liberal.

Sir Bandelot · December 11, 2008

Hypocrisy: Conservative saying he would never do what the Liberals do!

And on it goes...

jdobbin · December 11, 2008

Sarcasm: Pointing to a Liberal pointing out how a Conservative is acting as a Liberal.

I can't recall Liberals making any promises about the Senate except to say that it requires a constitutional meeting. Harper makes promises that he ends of breaking.

noahbody · December 11, 2008

Not surprised. What is funny is that he expects anyone he appoints to step down if elections ever happen. As if.

Maybe he's planning on appointing honourable people.

jdobbin · December 11, 2008

Maybe he's planning on appointing honourable people.

I'm sure.

Bryan · December 11, 2008

CTV
Unelected? Who knew?

Watch for the MSM to criticize Harper for these nominations.

Appointing the Senators now, with a written committment from the appointees to step aside for elections once those can be brought in, is what Harper has been advocating for a while now. Most of the pro-Conservative blogs have been reporting this for quite some time, and it was common talk at the CPC convention here in Winnipeg last month as well.

jdobbin · December 11, 2008

Appointing the Senators now, with a written committment from the appointees to step aside for elections once those can be brought in, is what Harper has been advocating for a while now. Most of the pro-Conservative blogs have been reporting this for quite some time, and it was common talk at the CPC convention here in Winnipeg last month as well.

It has no force of law behind it. Some might step down while others wouldn't. Don't believe me? Looks at how many people finf a reason to stay after saying they would only serve two terms. You can it on Winnipeg's own city council.