Impressive Move by Justin Trudeau

[pierrelebel]

Justin Trudeau removes senators from Liberal caucus

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."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-removes-senators-from-liberal-caucus-1.2515273

I wonder if Harper will have the guts to do the same.

[pierrelebel]

"Did he say he would abolish the senate if elected? "

I do not think so.  He is looking for an independent Senate, much along the line of was was created in 1867, where unelected senators, not answering to any political party currently in favour (or not) would debate and eventually approve or improve through amendments bills passed by the House before being submitted to the Governor General for signature.  The system worked fine for a hundred years until the Senate became politicized through partisan politics. Both major parties are at fault.

By the way, in my book, unelected is not a bad thing.  We have judges who are unelected (elected in the USA), crown attorneys who are unelected (they are elected in the USA), chiefs of police who are unelected (sheriffs are elected in many parts of the USA).  Finally, our civil service at all levels - municipal, provincial and federal - hundreds of thousands of people are unelected and, let's face it, they are the ones really running most things.

Abolition of the Senate would be the NDP solution.

[puckstopshere]

"Both major parties are at fault."

I agree.  The only reason that the NDP is not guilty is that they never had the chance. 

An unelected Senate is a good idea and I think Alberta has already elected a senator.

In 2006, Harper tabled Bill C-43, for "the consultation of the electors... in relation to the appointment of senators"

but it failed to pass. 

When Trudeau made his move to kick Liberal Senators out of caucus, Harper responded:

“What the Liberal Party doesn’t understand is that Canadians are not looking for a better unelected Senate,” Mr. Harper told the Commons during Question Period Wednesday. “Canadians believe that for the Senate to be meaningful in the 21st century it must be elected.”

Harper has tried to make the Senate an elected body, but it has been held up by a challenge in the Supreme Court.

If it ever happens, and people can "run" for the position of Senator, I am convinced that parties would still be involved.  They have the money and the machinery to "support" candidates for Senate office, even if it is done under the table.

We also need to limit the amount of time a Senator can be in office.  I think 8 years is adequate.  I also think that the P.M. should have the same limitation.  The Liberals, NDP and PQ will continue to split the vote and return Harper to power - even if it is in a minority government.  I am constantly amazed at the number of people who think Harper is doing a good job.  I know several well educated individuals with significant knowledge of the economy and they love Harper.  Go figure.

[art-in-the-making]

By the way, in my book, unelected is not a bad thing

I agree wholeheartedly with Pierre, as far as the Senate is concerned.

Electing the Senate would only ensure that Senators would be elected in a similar proportion to MPs. The problem with this is that the function of the Senate is envisioned as a counterbalance to the flavour-of-the-day election winners. Filling the Senate with non-partisan Canadian men and women of achievement and high ethical standards, from a broad range of fields, would ensure that the Senate would not be beholden to any party and could reasonably be expected to act in the interests of Canadians, rather than the PM who put them there.

What worries Harper about this is that any random cross section of high achieving, highly ethical individuals would be very difficult for him to subvert or control. In other words, not Steve's cup of tea.

[rose-dee]

---

@pierrelebel wrote:

"Why didn't Justin remove them from the Senate altogether? "

NOBODY, even the Prime Minister, has the authority to do that.

---

Not entirely accurate.  If I may add a note of levity to this discussion, maybe it's time someone called Her Majesty The Queen to sort things out. 

[reallynicestamps]

And again, the House of Commons can't do that. Unconstitutional.

Removing senators from the party caucus also removes them from the control of the party leader.

[stevephinn2012]

Again and I have had no reply (wonder why) if they have been removed as Justin has said then they are independent's. They have NO leader as they are all equal ! In FACT there are other independents sitting there now. They were not asked to join these new "independent Liberals"  

In Parliament much like the Senate if you are an independent you CANNOT have "party" status which means NO leader and yet these "independent Liberals" have Party Status in the Senate and have 1 member receiving EXTRA pay for being the leader!

You CAN"T  have it both ways

Either they are independents with NO party status and NO leader OR they actual have party status as LIBERALS

When is Justin (or anybody) going to step up to the plate and address this??

[stevephinn2012]

hmm MONTHS and still waiting!!  How can they have a LEADER AND PARTY status if they are NOT members of a party BUT independents as Justin has said!!

anybody jump up!

[nuvistors]

In a few more years Little PET  will have his answer.

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

When is Justin (or anybody) going to step up to the plate and address this??

I will. Just private email me your address and I'll explain it to you, how that can be accomplished.

[stevephinn2012]

nice attempt at a threat--ahahaha   go hide behind your computer some more!!   send me your address big shot

[prior-of-verity*shake-hands-with-your-devil]

LOL thanks. You made my day.

[kh-leslie]

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