Conservative majority in Senate could give Trudeau problems in passing bills

Justin Trudeau’s forthcoming legislative agenda could face roadblocks in the Senate, requiring his Liberal government to negotiate concessions with Conservative senators who hold the hammer of the majority in the upper chamber.

The Tories hold the most seats in the upper chamber and would be able to use that leverage to slow down legislation, force amendments or push their own private member’s bills up higher on the Senate’s agenda.

That was what the Liberals did when Stephen Harper was first elected in 2006. The Tories were the minority in the upper chamber and had to negotiate with the Liberal majority to get legislation like the Accountability Act passed into law.

“We’re going to deal with them just like they dealt with us when they were the majority,” said one senior Conservative senator, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the caucus had yet to discuss its next steps.

Most negotiations, the senator said, will be civil, although Conservatives may not freely give their votes on legislation.

“I don’t have any responsibility to pass Liberal legislation.”

Original Article
Source: nationalnewswatch.com/
Author: Will LeRoy