tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794543501422517253.post7530924321325789858..comments2023-11-02T02:40:52.154-07:00Comments on Liberal Political Musings: Harper's Defence on Senate Reform (it's a poor one)YLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07889907981358261904noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794543501422517253.post-13479324687242375022009-08-30T20:15:54.935-07:002009-08-30T20:15:54.935-07:00While I agree that Harper should be following thro...While I agree that Harper should be following through on his comittment to Senate Reform, it must be said that the Provinces, IMHO, do have a responsibility to provide elected Senators for the PM to appoint until such a time that we have the Constitutional ammendments in place and have real reform.<br /><br />Senators are not strictly a federal post, and so the responsibilities for electing/appointing them should be shared. Its going to take not just the House and Senate to pass the reforms, but in all likelyhood also a 2/3 majority in each Province (or at least those who want to take part in elections).<br /><br />I hate to say it, but the Liberal Party will not allow the reforms through the Senate, they have made that much clear. The Bloc and NDP don't have any Senators, and in fact want the Senate abolished, an idea I am tossing around in my own mind. By simple deduction, that leaves the Conservatives to do the Senate Reforming - and the only way to do it is through the Senate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794543501422517253.post-29027759408056956672009-08-28T17:46:02.031-07:002009-08-28T17:46:02.031-07:00To Joanne: I haven't decided. However, I was v...To Joanne: I haven't decided. However, I was very surprised by Harper's defence, which as I wrote in the post, is only a deflection of the problem onto the provinces, a problem Harper vowed to solve, himself. <br /><br />To zoop: The point of the post is to point out discrepancy in Harper's actions, from claiming to want to solve the problem one moment, to putting the responsibility for the problem on the provinces who aren't offering him elected senators to appoint.<br /><br />Appointing elected senators was not the sort of reform that Harper was advocating. Harper was calling for electing the senators. There's a difference, in that the latter implies that he would bring about elections for said senators.YLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07889907981358261904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794543501422517253.post-24597342066838446032009-08-28T11:54:22.062-07:002009-08-28T11:54:22.062-07:00Harper doesn't have to defend his appointments...Harper doesn't have to defend his appointments, its his responsibility and privilege to make them. Harper promised, proposed and passed legislation, and he is the only Prime Minister to ever appoint elected Senators. Twice!<br /><br />Liberals PASSED Harper's Senate reform legislation in the House, then BLOCKED it in the Senate. Then they criticized Harper's policy because the all Senate vacancies meant the committees couldn't do their work. They had a point, until Harper appointed Senators specifically chosen to break through the undemocratic Liberal roadblock.<br /><br />You Liberals love to twist the facts, but the facts remain.zoopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1794543501422517253.post-37793710591498343792009-08-28T07:32:46.082-07:002009-08-28T07:32:46.082-07:00So are you for or against Senate Reform?So are you for or against Senate Reform?Joanne (True Blue)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17445664997050698154noreply@blogger.com