Trudeau: All 32 Liberal Senators to Sit as Independents

[RedHot25]

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

Justin Trudeau has expelled from his caucus every single Liberal member of the upper house and has declared there is no longer any such thing as a Liberal Senator.

The Liberal leader said the former members of the Liberal Senate caucus will sit as Independents, and they will have no formal ties to the Liberal parliamentary machinery apart from through their friendships.


Trudeau's decision will see some lifelong Liberals and key party operators and fundraisers removed from the party's caucus and forced outside its inner circles – a foundation-shaking decision in a business where power is derived from membership in a political club and the ability to access its best back rooms.


"The 32 formerly Liberal senators are now independent of the national Liberal caucus," Trudeau said. "They are no longer part of our parliamentary team. There are no more Liberal senators.
"The only way to be a part of the Liberal caucus is to be put there by the people of Canada."

Trudeau proposed the Senate should be made non-partisan, to better serve Canadians. He suggested an "open, transparent, non-partisan process" that would see all senators named to the Red Chamber sit as Independents.

[Daradon]

Yeah saw the press conference this morning. Feels like big news as it happens, but the ore I think about it the more I wonder what the point is.

And god I'm so sick of politicians saying 'open and transparent'.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Yeah saw the press conference this morning. Feels like big news as it happens, but the ore I think about it the more I wonder what the point is.

And god I'm so sick of politicians saying 'open and transparent'.

It's symbolic, but it does nothing if the selection process doesn't change, as I'd imagined we'd end up with a bunch of handshake senators.

[Daradon]

Oh I know it's symbolic, as Trudeau has no power. I just mean, even as a symbol it's kinda pointless. Just seems to be distancing himself from scandal, which is fine, but it seems like the Liberals will be found out to be just as guilty as the Conservatives in this particular matter. So kinda a sleazy politician move. Hey look, I'm different! Yawn.

[undercoverbrother]

IS the Senate in Canada is still a useful functioning entity?

[Ashartus]

In principle I think it would be a good thing to get rid of parties and partisanship in the senate if we're going to keep it - this only becomes meaningful if the Conservatives do it too and then the senators don't just vote based on partly lines anyhow.

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

IS the Senate in Canada is still a useful functioning entity?

Was it ever?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Handsome B. Wonderful

Was it ever?

I was foolishly trying to be optomistic.....

[Flabbibulin]

Sounds like Trudeau wants to completely abolish the Senate...

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I was foolishly trying to be optomistic.....

Is that when you believe you have really good eyes?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

IS the Senate in Canada is still a useful functioning entity?

Hell no. Bunch of political friends of friends who have been given cushy seats as a pat on the back for the most part.

Does Alberta still to the Triple-E thing for our Senators?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Is that when you believe you have really good eyes?

I was optimistic I would multi task.........was........

[CaptainCrunch]

Means nothing, who do you think these "independents" get their marching orders from when it comes to voting. Its spraying perfume on a clump of poop.

If he had requested the resignation of all Liberal senators and opened the way for senate elections I would be impressed.

Its typical Trudeau, its blustery and about as thin as a playing card and at the end of the day meaningless.

Nothing is going to happen until the Supreme Court rules on this, that's why Trudeau is doing this now.

[FlamesAddiction]

I do find it funny that Harper's platform for most of his political career has been senate reform and/or abolishment, but Trudeau just did more as 3rd fiddle in the government to bring about change than Harper has in the last 25 years.

[Devils'Advocate]

Why you shouldn't get your news from Facebook:

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I do find it funny that Harper's platform for most of his political career has been senate reform and/or abolishment, but Trudeau just did more as 3rd fiddle in the government to bring about change than Harper has in the last 25 years.

Huh, Harper has already put forth a challenge to the courts thats to be ruled on so that he can either reform or abolish. When he was running a minority government he was fought by the opposition every time he bought up the term senate reform.

What Trudeau put out today is basically wall paper, it has little meaning and isn't meaningful.

He basically said, all of these Liberal Senators are wink wink independent.

Lets not judge this until the first piece of legislation hits the Senate that the Conservatives like and the Liberals hate and see how independent they are.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

it has little meaning and isn't meaningful.

But is it devoid of meaning, or is there a dearth of meaning inherent therein? Tell us, o wise sage.

Anyway, it's a fine symbolic gesture, imo, but beyond that not terribly noteworthy.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Means nothing, who do you think these "independents" get their marching orders from when it comes to voting. Its spraying perfume on a clump of poop.

If he had requested the resignation of all Liberal senators and opened the way for senate elections I would be impressed.

Its typical Trudeau, its blustery and about as thin as a playing card and at the end of the day meaningless.

Nothing is going to happen until the Supreme Court rules on this, that's why Trudeau is doing this now.

If they're sitting as independents, then I'm curious to now who you think givest he voting instructions? They're no longer in the caucus meetings so the direction wouldn't come from there...

[CaptainCrunch]

sorry Slava I think that the fact that they're not sitting in the caucus meetings is irrelevant. These people have been liberals forever. and there are these things called phones.

This is a cosmetic statement at best.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

sorry Slava I think that the fact that they're not sitting in the caucus meetings is irrelevant. These people have been liberals forever. and there are these things called phones.

This is a cosmetic statement at best.

So the fact that they were appointed as Liberals means that they're incapable of exercising independent thought and judgement? Interesting.

I actually think that this is a brilliant move towards meaningful reform. It takes the partisanship out of the picture, and that is one of the things that is wrong with the senate. I'm not entirely surprised that Harper supporters are looking for reasons to discredit it, but I would think that most conservatives would be in favour of this step no matter how much it pains them to admit it.