Justin Trudeau to remove senators from Liberal caucus

[whammy]

Smart move. Will Harper follow suit?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/just...ucus-1.2515273

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is removing senators from the party caucus and forcing them to sit as Independents.

The move, a bid to reform the Senate, blindsided both Liberal senators and veteran political observers.

It will see some life-long Liberals and key party operators and fundraisers effectively expelled from the party's caucus and forced outside its inner circles.

The Liberal leader is scheduled to talk to reporters in the foyer of the House of Commons starting at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Trudeau's surprise move Wednesday morning came as all parties held their caucus meetings in Ottawa.

Those meetings typically include both MPs and senators.

Long-running scandal

There are currently 32 Liberal senators who sit in the Upper House as official members of the Liberal Party and represent the party's positions and political interests.

Those senators also sit and vote on Senate committees that do important political work reviewing legislation.

It's not yet clear how, or even if, the Liberal Party intends to maintain its political power inside the Senate.

The Senate scandal that has dominated political news in Ottawa for more than a year has had political implications for both the Liberal and Conservative parties.

Although most of those senators under investigation are former Conservatives, the Liberals have not escaped being tarred by the scandal's politically sticky brush.

Former Liberal senator Mac Harb has been accused by the RCMP of committing fraud by filing inappropriate expense claims, according to documents filed in Ottawa court.

A Senate committee investigating senators' expenses ordered Harb to repay more than $230,000.

He retired in August after paying it back.

[avb3]

Didn't think he had the balls to do anything.

That's quite the gambit. Bet the PMO are doing back flips coming up with a cogent response.

[hillbillyreefer]

Trashcan the whole works and let us elect them. Or toss the entire Senate.

That way the Party isn't on the hotseat when one of these criminals gets caught.

[nof60]

Time for the senate to be reformed so it can do its job. It should be the regional check and balance to the population based house. There should be 4 Senators per province and 1 per territory. They should be elected and sit for a term of 4 or 8 years.

[Scott N]

How's he going to get any legislation passed without any senators?

[whammy]

Originally Posted by Scott N

How's he going to get any legislation passed without any senators?

The idea is that the House of Commons will have to put forward legislation that the independent Senate believes is in the best interest of Canadians.

[HyperMOA]

Didn't think I would ever, ever, EVER say this, "Good job Justin!"

[nof60]

Originally Posted by HyperMOA

Didn't think I would ever, ever, EVER say this, "Good job Justin!"

No kidding eh. Feels kinda funny saying those words. Like the Fonz saying sorry.

[CanuckShooter]

He's getting my vote in the next election!! About time we got a leader with some chutzpah.

[leeaspell]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

He's getting my vote in the next election!! About time we got a leader with some chutzpah.

He won't be getting my vote, but with that said it's nice to see him boot those useless freeloaders

[nof60]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

He's getting my vote in the next election!! About time we got a leader with some chutzpah.

Dont like guns or what?

[Dr. Phil A]

I agree that the Senate should be elected with terms.
I don't agree with getting rid of the senate. They are there to throw the brakes on questionable laws and what not.

Can you imagine where we would be if the Cretien liberals had not had the senate to slow them down? You would have exactly what we have here in Alberta right now. A majority who think they have the right to rule as they see fit and do not have to answer to anyone. Draconian bills that keep eroding our rights and priveleges because they can pass this stuff behind closed doors with zero opposition. "Democratic dictatorship"

[bessiedog]

Originally Posted by CanuckShooter

He's getting my vote in the next election!! About time we got a leader with some chutzpah.

I just choked on my coffee!


Would someone slap this man and make everything normal again?


sorry... he's got too many old school handlers working for him.

Gun registry here we come.

[whammy]

Originally Posted by nof60

Dont like guns or what?

Originally Posted by bessiedog

I just choked on my coffee!


Would someone slap this man and make everything normal again?


sorry... he's got too many old school handlers working for him.

Gun registry here we come.

There is more to life than firearms. That being said, I don't think that he will try anytime soon to put the long gun registry back in place - too expensive and will generate too much bad press.

I'm sure he's got some old Liberal boys coaching him, but the party is changing. After Ignatieff driving them into the ground last election I have to imagine there's been a bit of a shakeup in the Liberal ranks. Not to say I support Trudeau, but it's good to see at least one party trying to come up with new ideas.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by nof60

Dont like guns or what?

What's your point? Do you like speaking mandarin?

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by whammy

There is more to life than firearms. That being said, I don't think that he will try anytime soon to put the long gun registry back in place - too expensive and will generate too much bad press.

I'm sure he's got some old Liberal boys coaching him, but the party is changing. After Ignatieff driving them into the ground last election I have to imagine there's been a bit of a shakeup in the Liberal ranks. Not to say I support Trudeau, but it's good to see at least one party trying to come up with new ideas.

Lead by example is a common term. How can anyone claim that the senate [as it stands] is non partisan when senators sit on your caucus? It makes a mockery of the entire upper house. About time a leader had the stones to make things right...and you notice Harper doing anything with the senate other than covering up for his pets?

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by hillbillyreefer

Trashcan the whole works and let us elect them. Or toss the entire Senate.

That way the Party isn't on the hotseat when one of these criminals gets caught.

The problem with an elected senate is that once again we end up with partisans who are supposed to be the objective stop check for runaway government and prevent bad legislation.

The other day I heard a suggestion on the radio that I think has merit.

Pick them from a pool of honourable citisens of every walk of life...for instance Order of Canada recipients.

I like that idea.
The senate is important but it will never function as intended if we don't eliminate the politics from those positions.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by whammy

There is more to life than firearms. That being said, I don't think that he will try anytime soon to put the long gun registry back in place - too expensive and will generate too much bad press.

I'm sure he's got some old Liberal boys coaching him, but the party is changing. After Ignatieff driving them into the ground last election I have to imagine there's been a bit of a shakeup in the Liberal ranks. Not to say I support Trudeau, but it's good to see at least one party trying to come up with new ideas.

I believe that he already stated that he had no intent to revisit the LGR anyway.

[whammy]

I think the real question that should be raised by this is:

Why has Harper done NOTHING to work towards reforming the Senate? Pretty shameful to get beat to the punch by your #1 political opponent on one of your key campaigning items.

[whammy]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Badger

The problem with an elected senate is that once again we end up with partisans who are supposed to be the objective stop check for runaway government and prevent bad legislation.

The other day I heard a suggestion on the radio that I think has merit.

Pick them from a pool of honourable citisens of every walk of life...for instance Order of Canada recipients.

I like that idea.
The senate is important but it will never function as intended if we don't eliminate the politics from those positions.

In ancient Greece the senate was picked randomly from all citizens to attempt a true representation of the people.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by whammy

I think the real question that should be raised by this is:

Why has Harper done NOTHING to work towards reforming the Senate? Pretty shameful to get beat to the punch by your #1 political opponent on one of your key campaigning items.

That is exactly the point, Harper has spent more time and effort on every issue on the planet than he has on Canadian issues. He sends the Palestinian authority millions in foreign aide and closes down veterans offices and coast guard stations what's with that? What is important to Harper and his cronies anyways?????? Falling dollar perhaps?

[Okotokian]

Originally Posted by nof60

There should be 4 Senators per province and 1 per territory. They should be elected and sit for a term of 4 or 8 years.

If it`s not population based then why not give the territories 4 each as well?

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by Okotokian

If it`s not population based then why not give the territories 4 each as well?

Good idea....equality is important in Canada.

[Big Daddy Badger]

Originally Posted by whammy

In ancient Greece the senate was picked randomly from all citizens to attempt a true representation of the people.

Why not do the same here?
All we need to do is set up some basic criteria and then put oin place some job security for those that serve.

Make it a 2 year term and a once in a lifetime poition.

Like a giant jury selection.

[pseelk]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Badger

I believe that he already stated that he had no intent to revisit the LGR anyway.

He also said he believes in gun control.Point bieng,he is a Liberal,Therefore he lies.

[HunterDave]

On the surface I like this idea. Unfortunately I think that calling them Independent is merely fluff as long as Senators are appointed to the Senate. No matter who is elected, they will chose Senators who they think will support their party. If Justin gets elected do you think that he'll appoint Independent Senators with Conservative views (loyalties) or Liberal ones. A leopard can't change it's spots no matter what you call it.

Hey, the NDP took the word socialist out but that didn't make them any less socialist just by doing that.

[rwm1273]

Finally Trudeau the second does something I can truly respect. If he keeps this up, he may eventually gain some credibility.

[Okotokian]

He should follow through on his principles in the House of Commons too.

[hal53]

Nice window dressing, but in reality it only means 32 Liberal senators won't be attending weekly caucus meetings.......

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by hal53

Nice window dressing, but in reality it only means 32 Liberal senators won't be attending weekly caucus meetings.......

Sounds like a better cost saving method than closing veterans affairs offices....