Quote:
Originally Posted by FurnaceFace
This is within the rules but it has a rather undemocratic smell to it. It's not in the same ballpark as ignoring election results but you can see the flags in right field. For all the triple E senate rhetoric of his predecessors he seems to be doing quite the opposite and is doing what I'm sure has happened in the past, but he's just somehow flaunting it.
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Ironically, the main thrust of his appointing the new senators revolves around senate reform. He's got the strength in the upper chamber now to push through some reforms (term limits on senators), and will likely play chicken with the Liberals again to get it through Commons.
Election of senators is the stickier issue though, as he will face lawsuits from several provinces if he tries to legislate what would amount to a constitutional change. Personally, I think his best move there would be to had the appointment of new senators to the provinces themselves. Let the government of each province tell the feds who they want appointed, and follow through. It would leave the democratic trappings up to each province. Though, barring a real constitutional change, would also rely on the honour of the Prime Minister in any given day. Fat chance, eh?