Senate appointments

[scribblet]

Maybe, but it doesn't matter which party makes appts. they will always see it as that way, the Liberals have made more patronage appts. than any other party. However, I don't think Harper can do anything else, why would he leave them open with the possibility of the troika taking power still, or a possible election loss.

[jdobbin]

but he really has no choice......and if people would calmly and objectively step back and view this as Senate Reform, they would also see that he has no choice.

As another prime minister has said: He had a choice. He could have chosen not to promise something he could not deliver on.

Senate reform without opening the Constitution is toothless.

If he wanted to do something different, he could have asked for a wider consultative process for potential Senators rather than just appointing Tory party members.

[jdobbin]

Maybe, but it doesn't matter which party makes appts. they will always see it as that way, the Liberals have made more patronage appts. than any other party. However, I don't think Harper can do anything else, why would he leave them open with the possibility of the troika taking power still, or a possible election loss.

Harper promised what he couldn't deliver. No Quebec premier was going to agree to an equal Senate without huge concessions. Other premiers would rather see the Senate abolished as they were for many of the provinces. Others, at provincial and federal levels, saw the dangers of having elected officials in a legislative body that already has powers to make it effective. It was something that could bog down government functions and add to national disunity, especially if seat distribution remained the same.

Harper was not going to be able to act the bully on the Constitutional front because the amending formula makes the premiers as powerful as he is at the table.

The promise of Senate reform without Constitutional changes was wishful thinking and a stupid promise to make.

The cries of "we had no choice" will not make anyone happy.

[Nat]

I've never agreed with the triple E Senate, simply abolish it!

[scribblet]

I tend to agree we should abolish it, but there has to be some checks and balances surely.... and while we are at it, get rid of the GG.

[madmax]

I tend to agree we should abolish it, but there has to be some checks and balances surely.... and while we are at it, get rid of the GG.

Wow.. Scriblett. I am impressed. Congrats. The GG part is icing on the cake.

[madmax]

Filling the 18 vacancies with people who are committed to reform and who will voluntarily step down if and when Senate elections are accepted is a good start. ......and if people would calmly and objectively step back and view this as Senate Reform, they would also see that he has no choice.

There is a sucker born every minute. This is not about Senate Reform. Just as this Manning,

Fabian Manning, a Conservative defeated just two months ago in the federal election, was appointed Monday to the Senate.

Is not this Manning....

Ernest Preston Manning, CC (born June 10, 1942, in Edmonton, Alberta), is a conservative populist Canadian politician. He was the only leader of the Reform Party of Canada,

who actually campaigned for Senate Reform.

And these appointments have nothing to do with Senate Reform, but are CPC bagman and Organizers getting their patronage.

Harper's list of new senators reads as a who's who of Conservative party operatives

Michael L. MacDonald, a Halifax Conservative organizer..............

Representing Ontario are Conservative Party fundraiser.... Irving Gerstein

Yup, that's reform

Edited December 22, 2008 by madmax