MR HARPER DEFENDS SENATE STATUS QUO: It was a remarkable spectacle in todays Question Period. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau laid out a specific plan to establish a transparent, non-partisan appointment process for future Senators, and acted immediately to remove partisanship and patronage from the existing Senate by removing all current Senators from the Liberal Party of Canadas National Caucus. They are now all independents. He called upon Stephen Harper to do the same for Conservative Senators -- to fundamentally change the Senate for the better without getting mired in an endless and acrimonious constitutional hassle. Mr. Harper refused. Eight years ago he promised never to appoint any Senators at all. But in fact he has appointed 59 - more than any other Prime Minister in history. And he has appointed two of them twice. By refusing to follow Mr. Trudeaus example, Mr. Harper is defending a partisan Senate, he is defending a patronage-based system, and hes defending his own political control over an institution that has become highly discredited. For many Canadians, the straw that broke the camels back was the spectacle of political operatives in the Harper PMO attempting meddle in a forensic audit of Mike Duffys expenses -- as described in sworn police documents. Such a process should not be under the thumb of any Prime Minister or Party Leader. That partisan connection must be severed. Without a pointless constitutional debate thats bound to fail, Justin Trudeau has laid out a way forward -- taking away partisanship, patronage and PMO manipulation. He has demonstrated courage, innovation and leadership. Mr. Harper, on the other hand, remains mired in the old politics, the very thing that has reduced the Senate to its current condition -- one that most Canadians find untenable. Trudeau for realistic and progressive change. Harper for the status quo. Which will Canadians choose? ###
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 22:43:32 +0000
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