Free Republic

Prime Minister Steve Harper did it again last week. With little prior warning, he disclosed his intention of carrying out yet another promise he made during last winter's election campaign. He intends to launch a "step-by-step" reform of the Canadian Senate, arguably the most baffling and pointless legislative body extant in any Western democracy. To Ottawa's seasoned skeptics his announcement was doubly shocking. First, unlike almost all his prime ministerial predecessors, Harper apparently takes seriously the promises he made back then. One of those predecessors, Liberal Jean Chretien, announced at one point that he considered it unfair to demand that...

OTTAWA — As the Conservative government tries to pass one bill limiting the terms of senators to eight years, it also plans to introduce another one to have them elected rather than appointed to the upper chamber. “The government, hopefully this fall, will introduce a bill in the House to create a process to choose elected Senators,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday told a Senate committee. The committee is reviewing bill s-4, which would reduce a senator's term from mandatory retirement at age 75, to eight years. "The government isn't looking for another report. We are seeking action," Harper...

Prime minister announces new senators; one is snubbed by NDP 1 hour, 11 minutes ago ALEXANDER PANETTA OTTAWA (CP) - Prime Minister Paul Martin announced nine new senators Thursday, but his attempt to appoint the first ever New Democrat was swiftly rebuffed by the NDP. Martin's unusual step of nominating three opposition members only caused confusion as the party affiliation of each was immediately called into question. The NDP refused to allow a Saskatchewan appointee to sit in its caucus and two other appointees rejected the new Conservative party, choosing to sit as Progressive Conservatives. The partisan kerfuffle threatened to...