Jason Kenney is suggesting his boss Stephen Harper could do away with the Senate if his Conservative caucus in the Red Chamber doesn’t play ball and accept his reforms. Choosing his words carefully, Mr. Kenney avoided saying the word “abolish.” Rather, he said the Prime Minister is prepared to “entertain more dramatic options” if Tory senators continue to balk at his proposal.
The government is expected to introduce its Senate-reform legislation in the House of Commons this week, just before its rises for the summer. A fiery exchange between Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin and the NDP’s democratic reform critic, David Christopherson, on CTV’s Question Period Sunday showed just how passionate this debate has become.
Mr. Kenney is not only the Immigration Minister but also chairman of the powerful cabinet operations committee. His words carry some weight around the cabinet table.
“Well the Prime Minister, I think, has said publicly that our preference is a reformed democratic Senate,” Mr. Kenney told CTV’s Power Play late last week. “But if we don’t get that we are prepared to entertain more dramatic options but we prefer not to get into constitutional amendments. Our preference is reform without constitutional amendments.”
He noted, too, that Tory senators had agreed with the Prime Minister’s vision of reform – an elected Senate and term limits of eight years – when they were appointed to the Red Chamber.
But it appears now that some senators want longer terms. Mr. Harper had initially suggested eight years but has since compromised to nine years.
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Source: Globe & Mail
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