Jump to content

PM to appoint Tory insiders to Senate


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 207
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Even the Globe & Mail supports what Harper is trying to do for heaven's sake. Here's some of what they had to say in their editorial which was in print and also online:

Stephen Harper, the Prime Minister, was right to fill nine vacancies in the Senate yesterday, though he should also work harder toward making it into an elected chamber. The Senate is in any case part of the Canadian form of government. The Constitution established, and continues to require, a bicameral Parliament. The Senate should be enabled to function, not left to wither away.

.....snip.....

Complaints about cronyism and “Harpocrisy” in these appointments are misplaced; party allegiance is no disqualification. The opposition should instead work co-operatively with the Conservatives toward an elected Senate.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinio...article1267551/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No surprise here, always knew Harper was a LIAR and a hypocrite. MAYBE HE WILL GIVE HIS NON-POLITICAL ILLITERATE BUDDY A CABINET POSITION? He has already shown that he has no problem using unelected hacks in his cabinet. Time to throw this piece of blue shit out on his ass.

Yeah, so the other guys can go back to putting THEIR hacks into the Senate!

Same old, same old.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harper made an excellent choice for US Ambassador and a couple of the Senators too. It's the hypocrisy of appointing party hacks that I have a problem with.

Polls show that a majority in all provinces want an elected Senate (even if I don't see the benefit). I don't know what's stopping Harper from getting the Constitutional change that required....or even trying.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harper made an excellent choice for US Ambassador and a couple of the Senators too. It's the hypocrisy of appointing party hacks that I have a problem with.

Polls show that a majority in all provinces want an elected Senate (even if I don't see the benefit). I don't know what's stopping Harper from getting the Constitutional change that required....or even trying.

You don't remeber what happened the last time constitution was opened do you?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Harper made an excellent choice for US Ambassador and a couple of the Senators too. It's the hypocrisy of appointing party hacks that I have a problem with.

Polls show that a majority in all provinces want an elected Senate (even if I don't see the benefit). I don't know what's stopping Harper from getting the Constitutional change that required....or even trying.

Do you not REALLY understand how difficult it is to re-open the Constitution? It's never about just one change.....it's like opening Pandora's box. So Harper has been trying to take baby steps towards Senate reform. As for party hacks, go back and read the Globe & Mail article a couple of posts back.......it doesn't mean that the Globe is right - it just means that there is another informed view that is counter to your position.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know how difficult it is to open and change the Constitution, but there is no other way to make the change that he wants. Either do it, or suck it up. As for party hacks.....he's a hypocrite, and there's no way around that.

Edited by Smallc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Of course there is another way to do it! It just takes a little integrity. Harper can appoint whoever he wants to the senate, so the constitution say. He can appoint the folks that the provinces tell him to. He can appoint the people that provincial citizens decide through democratic process.

The fact that he does not speaks volumes doesn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Do you not REALLY understand how difficult it is to re-open the Constitution? It's never about just one change.....it's like opening Pandora's box. So Harper has been trying to take baby steps towards Senate reform. As for party hacks, go back and read the Globe & Mail article a couple of posts back.......it doesn't mean that the Globe is right - it just means that there is another informed view that is counter to your position.

Without Constitutional change, the term limits Harper has said his appointments will serve is unenforceable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BTW you should be tickled pick with Harpers ambassador to the US.

Mulroney picked Stephen Lewis to be his U.N. ambassador. It doesn't mean that he didn't make many other appointmernts of party faithful.

Likewise, Harper appointing Doer shouldn't shade the fact that top people from Harper's office who have been rewarded a Senate seat.

Edited by jdobbin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

He can appoint the folks that the provinces tell him to. He can appoint the people that provincial citizens decide through democratic process.The fact that he does not speaks volumes doesn't it?

The provinces can't be forced to hold senatorial elections. The fact that only one has ever bothered to try speaks volumes, doesn't it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Without Constitutional change, the term limits Harper has said his appointments will serve is unenforceable.

Keep in mind that term limits would grandfather the current 75 year retirement for sitting Senators and new Senators would be giving their word that they would step down after 8 years. Knowing that, what do you think the public opinion would be if the Senate voted in favour of such term limits followed by this scenario: the Conservative appointees keep their word and start to step down after 8 years, and a Liberal Senator declines to do so? It's not too difficult to imagine the outrage.....and that's why even without a Constitutional ammendment, term limits could be effectively established. And that would be Step 1.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Without Constitutional change, the term limits Harper has said his appointments will serve is unenforceable.

Which is why he specifically had to put people in those positions who are party faithful that he can trust. Unless and until senate reform happens, the best he can do right now is appoint people who believe in reform, and agree to conditions that he can't actually force them to uphold.

If the Provinces elect senators, he'll appoint them. He's done it before, and he's made it very clear to the provinces that if they don't elect senators, he will appoint them. Anyone calling these appointments anything other than a pragmatic move is an idiot in my books.

"He's a hypocrite!" "He's a hypocrite!" . Great. So what should he have done with a minority parliament, vacant seats, no elected senators in waiting, and a red chamber vehemently opposed to reform?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Keep in mind that term limits would grandfather the current 75 year retirement for sitting Senators and new Senators would be giving their word that they would step down after 8 years.

It wouldn't grandfather anything. The age 75 limit is set by the constitution. No 8 year word-of-honour agreement will trump that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Tell a friend

    Love Repolitics.com - Political Discussion Forums? Tell a friend!
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      10,721
    • Most Online
      1,403

    Newest Member
    paradox34
    Joined
  • Recent Achievements

    • SkyHigh earned a badge
      Posting Machine
    • SkyHigh went up a rank
      Proficient
    • gatomontes99 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • gatomontes99 went up a rank
      Enthusiast
    • gatomontes99 earned a badge
      Dedicated
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...