Senator Bert Brown
Appointed to Senate is Mr "EEE Senate or Else" Bert Brown. Controversial in that he's been elected twice as a Senator-In-Waiting.
The Liberals are screaming bloody murder, because Harper really should have appointed the best person for the job. And for once I agree with them. After all Betty Unger had more votes as another elected Senator-In-Waiting. With some doubt I believe she's next in line.
To speak of the larger issue at hand, this of course is a move aimed directly at Senate Reform. But since Senate Reform open a constitutional debate no minority government should tackle, this stops well shy of opening the debate. What it does do is place the ball square in the court of the provinces. Federal Senate Reform is now becoming the responsibility of the provinces. Elect your own Senators and the will of the people will be honoured by PM Harper. At least that's the message I get out of it.
Elect your Senators-In-Wait all you provinces! Because finally it means something.
The Liberals are screaming bloody murder, because Harper really should have appointed the best person for the job. And for once I agree with them. After all Betty Unger had more votes as another elected Senator-In-Waiting. With some doubt I believe she's next in line.
To speak of the larger issue at hand, this of course is a move aimed directly at Senate Reform. But since Senate Reform open a constitutional debate no minority government should tackle, this stops well shy of opening the debate. What it does do is place the ball square in the court of the provinces. Federal Senate Reform is now becoming the responsibility of the provinces. Elect your own Senators and the will of the people will be honoured by PM Harper. At least that's the message I get out of it.
Elect your Senators-In-Wait all you provinces! Because finally it means something.