These latest senate appointments remind me of the now infamous television debate between Brian Mulroney and John Turner when Mr. Mulroney exclaimed with disgust regarding the Liberal patronage appointments "you sir had a choice...". That was the turning point that changed the course of the election. The Canadian public had enough of this rewarding partisan hacks with Senate positions and the corresponding salaries and ridiculous pensions. The PC party was later decimated as Canadians found them to be just as corrupt and dishonorable.
The public response was the grass roots experiment known as the Reform Party of Canada. As a strong supporter, I felt that Preston Manning was a visionary with respect to knowing what changes were necessary to restore honour to Canadian politics. Mr. Harper's promise on his ascent in politics was always his support of this philosophy. I now feel physically ill to think my original support of this ideology has eventually led to the current mean-spirited, hypocritical and autocratic government. How can a party claiming to be based on "Christian values" behave exactly the opposite and then are rewarded with a majority government for their actions?
John Peate - 13 years ago
This should not degenerate into an uninformed discussion about the Senate. An elected Senate is anathema to a democratic Parliamentary system. An elected Senate with term limits will simply become another power centre but, unfortunately, not one that will fill the role of a Senate in our Parliamentary system. What is needed is not elections but for the power of appointment to be taken away from the Prime Minister or any Party political machine - something that will inevitably follow an elected Senate, by the way. The independence of the Senate must be restored. Triple E is a seductive slogan but, like all the CPC slogans it is designed to end a democratic institution and bring it under the power of political elites.
In the meantime, the focus should be on preventing Harper from abusing his power and misusing the Senate as a further tool in his ongoing attempts to subvert democracy in Canada. He must not be allowed to touch the Senate. He will not be stopped if people are again sidetracked into a fruitless discussion of the merits of different ideas of the Senate's construction. The role of the Senate is what matters and it is that that Harper wants to change and control.
Martin in Toronto - 13 years ago
Disgusting move by a government which uses "We're Sneaky & Dishonest" as their motto. Canadians have rejected these folks at the poll ... they are, therefore, ethically disqualified to accept Senate seats. That Harper offered the seats says a lot about Harper ... that these goofs accepted the ethically corrupt offer says even more about them.
Conservatives, dining at the trough. Exactly the thing that Harper and the Reformers and the Canadian Alliance always said they were against. turns out they're all members of the CRAP anyway, so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised.
I want MY Canada back, not Harper's tainted leftovers.
The West Wants In? How about sending someone of quality instead of this lot? The West can sure as hell do better.
Bill Arthur - 13 years ago
I have to wonder if there is not an agenda at work here. When you want to change an institution you make bad appointments to rile the people so they reward you for changing an institution you were instrumental in destroying with unqualified people/appointments.
Doug - 13 years ago
Susan McFarlane - you are misguided. Harper has a majority in senate, there is no impediment to his agenda on that front. He could save Canada a few hundred thousand dollars by leaving the seats vacant until such time as the provinces involved can get their act together and provide a system for elected senators. No matter which way you look at it, Mr Harper is giving three of his pals a cushy job for as many years as they want. When you defend giving 50 mil to Huntsville for being good enough to vote for your good friend Tony it can be no surprise that you give 132,000 of our tax money every year to three of your buddies who unaccountably failed miserably to convince the electorate of their worth. The political justification is that he wants to "protect" his senate majority for as long as he can. Who knows, maybe the elected senators would not jump to his command. Fine principles these, Mr Harper - goes with the "open and accountable" thing. You OK with this stuff out there in Frontierland, Alberta?
SUSAN MCFARLANE - 13 years ago
I think of this as a tempest in a teapot.Why would he not fill the empty spots in the Senate.There will never be senate reform while "the other side" holds the balance of power.Would any of you vote for a change which puts holes in the Gravy Train you were expecting for your life? It`s Layton`s job to be critical but is it yours CBC ? It`s always been thus in Canadian politics and one would think by listening to this that Stephen Harper has done something new and different.
Adelino Morte - 13 years ago
That is absolutly normal, when 40% of electorate vote conservative, and according to the rules, whether good or bad, gave the majority to this party, so called "consertive" in order to hide it's real colors, we all canadians have the goverment we deserve. More, be aware of what is coming next. Was for that that this country went to war so many times? Shame!!!
History has the ability to write itself again, it shows now in this country.
Are we going back to the 1930's? or are we going back to an absolutist monachy? Well, if we do not wake up, it is what we as canadians deserve. It is ower duty to unmask this masquerade,
watchful - 13 years ago
Now I wonder where were all these fervent and true defenders of Canada's Freedom of Rights "and decency/democracy when the ballot boxes were on display? Gosh, I wish that 40% who voted for Harpy had been more strident and decisive at those ballot booths- now we are stuck with four more years of belt tightening andmisery instead . At least when the Libs were in power - they shared enough of the goodies with the citizens even though they had the (usual and ongoing ) skull duggery happening in the public coffers! With Cns - no one ever has an easy ride - enjoy it folks - you let it happen!
John Peate - 13 years ago
That should have read that Rex Murphy is spreading the mischief that Climate Change is not real.
John Peate - 13 years ago
The question should not be whether these particular appointments should have been made. It is whether they are competent for the position which is more demanding than the vast majority of people realise if it is done conscientiously. What is Harper's purpose in making the appointments.
Is it, as the last three appointments were, to have a majority that would push through a Conservative Bill without debate. For the first time in history that it has happened.
The Senate is a vital part of the Institutional apparatus of democracy. Without it, any government with a majority will be even more dictatorial and wrong more often as there will no longer be oversight.
However, the purpose of the Senate is not an immediate issue and Harper can do nothing about its existence or its constitution. The question is the further undermining of democracy with the removal of all powers of the Senate; not by constitutional means but by bribery. We now have have a Conservative Caucus in the Senate that is paid only to rubber stamp Harper's Bills.
In other words, it is not only an attack on democracy; it is actual fraud.
As a thought. if all those who express their displeasure at the usurpation of democracy by Harper on places like this were to actually extend that to contacting their MPs and Harper himself, and to have their contacts do the same, something good might happen. I, personally, have been writing to newspapers and TV stations across Canada for a long time now and particularly on this government's record and intentions but not a word is ever seen in print or spoken. That, though, long ago, I had articles and letters in many major outlets across the country over a couple of issues of the times.
Canadian media is dominated by Right Wing ownership and, where it is not, by timidity. Nothing but a genuine grass roots swell and activity is going to change things and stop Canada on its slide back to the nineteenth century.
It is almost funny to see how many people have bought into the myth of the CPC as grass roots. It is actually an elite ideology that, by well financed propaganda has convinced the people that it is for the people.
The CBC is a lost cause in this. It has the garrulous goose, Rex Murphy parading his support for the anti democrats and, for his paycheque,denying and convincing the gullible that the existential threat of Climate Change. It has "Power Panels" of second raters and ideologues pushing their biased opinions on the people.
If Canada is to be saved from further disaster it is people like those who are writing here who will do it. But, they have to understand that they can by concerted actions that go beyond complaint.
Hal - 13 years ago
The majority of Canadians voted for this man, now we need to see if he really IS a Leader. Otherwise we have four painful years ahead. Now that he finally has the control he has always coveted ,there are no excuses left and he must deliver what he has promised. Sadly, todays Senate appointments of defeated candidates was an example of someone that is not a Leader at all.
hangman - 13 years ago
Harper is not only giving his big fatcat corporate buddies Billions of taxpayers money to walk off with, now he is going and giving those who Lost and Failed to get elected , nice cushy jobs with a bunch of taxpayers money to boot as pay.
the people did Not hire/vote for them , and they still get back in and a nice cushy seat.
doesn't speak well of Harper and how he views the people and taxpayers of Canada.
he is abusive, contemptuous and disrespectful and he thinks nothing of it.
doc_madsen - 13 years ago
Well lily it seems Mannings constituents didn't like him, but like all things in Harperland, as long as it wears blue all is good right. If this had been Chretein putting Anne McLellan into the senate after her loss in edmonton, I am sure you would have been pretty upset at the dictatorial appointing of a loser. But be proud of someone that clearly wasn't wanted by his constituents even after "delivering", yet gets a nice cushy job from harpy. Conservative democracy at its finest.
Lily - 13 years ago
Thank goodness Manning is back in the Senate. The riding of Avalon needs him. He has a proven track record of delivering; when he was an MP and when he was a Senator. We needed him back and I'm so so glad that he is.
beefy - 13 years ago
I sure hope that all of you that voted Con are embarassed today, either that or you're dumb as a post. Four years to go! Enjoy the dictatorship!
Selkirk McPhail - 13 years ago
The fact of politics is that you get what you voted for.
For those of you who thought, maybe with a majority, Harper would be more 'fair' in running government; guess again idiots!
poedforsure - 13 years ago
To all those Canadians who wanted a stable Conservative majority government well you got it in spades. Four years of contempt for the Canadian voter ; total disregard for Parliamentary procedure and law; arrogance and smugness. Thanks so much.
hangman - 13 years ago
Harper game,
mislead and lie to the people to grab votes and then turn around say scr*w them and go and appoint a bunch of Losers to the Senate.
sharon - 13 years ago
Idon't care if this is to pursue senate reform. Is so disrespectful to the electorate on many levels.
Tom Ramsay - 13 years ago
The supreme arrogance of Brian Mulroney caused him to attain a 10.7% approval rating with Canadians, which led to a resounding defeat, the Conservatives losing party status, having only 2 (yes, two) seats. Karma is a universal Law and cannot be eluded. Such arrogance by Mr. Harper will lead to his downfall too. I guess I should call him Stevie because my grandfather taught me to only give the appellation "Mr." to someone I respect.
daren tolle - 13 years ago
Good appointments to senate, but very bad optics. I supported the Tories for 40 years, what was he thinking, or who is advising the PM? That makes me worry.
normat - 13 years ago
Boy talk about sour grapes, the Liberals and NDP thinks Harper should have appointed Liberals and NDP losers to the senate.
Maya Dawg - 13 years ago
Hey Cathy ...
Good observation, i too was equally disturbed by that same image ...
Ed Sasha - 13 years ago
If there is one thing that illustrates the lie that the Speaker's charge of Harper's contempt of Parliament was the result of a partisan ploy by the opposition, it's Harper's utterly shameless appointment to the Senate of three Conservative election losers, as announced by the release issued minutes after he had taken questions on his new cabinet.
A shameless, hypocritical, cowardly, despicable and above all contemptuous act, brought to you by Harper's...
Strong
Stable
National
Majority
Conservative
Government
Harper insists that his mandate is about creating jobs. Now we know what he means.
Cathy Pawson - 13 years ago
I thought there was something wrong when I saw the camera shot of Harper and the Governor General walking towards the new Cabinet (sitting in their photo positions) and the GG interlaced his fingers, raised his arms and shook them at the Cabinet members in a definite "Champions!" gesture.
It kind of looked as if he was partial to the Conservatives. Shouldn't he be impartial?
Maybe I was reading it wrong....
Maya Dawg - 13 years ago
I've said this before, but, it's worth repeating ... ian chapstick sure is a jerk ...
Bobby Wonderful - 13 years ago
The appointments show utter contempt for the voters and makes a complete mockery of the Senate. That's how dictatorships are born.
J Maher - 13 years ago
The senate appointments, if they are necessary, should be an opportunity to recognize some of the considerable talent of this country beyond those so recently shown the door by the voters. Is this an admission by the PM that he does not have a very large circle of potential appointees?
BookPlanet - 13 years ago
No, of course not. It's wrong-headed, unethical, cynical, contemptuous, disrespectful . . . wait minute, it's perfectly in line with the Harper regime. Get used to this, Canada, the Conservative bullies have only just begun!
hangman - 13 years ago
obviously, "stay the course", means continue to abuse power and show contempt and disrespect fro the People of Canada.
Maya Dawg - 13 years ago
NO !
But, really ... does this really surprise anybody ... inflated cabinet and Senate appointments ... more broken promises ...
Anyway ... we will have 4 more years of this arrogant and gratuitous gluttony ... Jack's hypocritical and manufactured indignation won't cut it either ...
Henry - 13 years ago
I speak on behalf of the 40% of eligible voters who were too lazy to vote and the 23% of eligible voters who voted for the Harpies (and therefore don't pay attention to anything) when I say: "Who Cares?" Is anyone actually surprised at this man thumbing his nose at Canadians? He's been doing it since He deposed Manning.
Evan - 13 years ago
This should be a fun four years everyone. It hasn't taken long for both the government, and the official opposition, to make a lot of Canadian voters look like morons (not to mention themselves). I hope everyone remembers how they voted when the next election comes around. Not necessarily a low point in our Democracy, but certainly a shameful one!
Brian - 13 years ago
The timing of the announcement of the new senators certainly could have been delayed a day. But namimg 2 former senators back to the senate should be OK if they have an abilty to make a contribution.
Danny the True Nationalist - 13 years ago
They can do whatever they want. However, when you keep saying that you want an elected senate, and keep appointing uneleted senator, you start wondering if the prime minister is credible or if he is serious.
If there is a new elected senate, I hope it will be partisan free, completetly independant from parliment. A real legislative power that the government has to beg and convince to pass values and bills. Parliment would not have a single influence on it, it also has the last word on everything wheather approved or rejected by parliment.
Losing an election should not mean no re-appointment to the Senate. They should not be re-appointed simply because they thought so little of the position, they gave it up. Surely, the PM can find individuals who would treasure the position as Senator and never give it up no matter what. Look around PM Harper; find some candidates who would give their all the the position.
Al;ice Martin - 13 years ago
Well Canada, you got what you voted for. What a disgrace this government is. When are the people EVER going to wake up to the fact that we are headed for a DICTATORSHIP ??????????
John - 13 years ago
The voters have spoken. They defeated these candidates. The contempt of the voters continues.
Why am I not surprised?
Sean Curley in Montreal - 13 years ago
As a Canadian republican I believe in the election of senators. However, if Stephen Harper is still planning on reforming the Senate he will need senatorial approval. In this case he's playing the game well, and although I hardly ever lend support to the Conservative government, I do believe that the system must be changed from within. The best way to do that is to use the system that is in place to consolidate the power and support needed to effect changes.
Leopards don't change their spots. Did the electorate really think Harper would change. Partisan politics supporting the Harper Conservatives is always trumps taxpayer needs.
george hall - 13 years ago
This is so wrong in so many ways.
watchful - 13 years ago
Does this hold true for ordinary (nonappointed) MP's also? Seems fair to me that they should also not have to give up their income permanently on a chance of being voted in; as usual - two levels of treatment for the Senators - who are political appointees_ and the MP's who ttruly represent voting , tax paying Canadians!
Matthew - 13 years ago
For a guy that was so enthusiastic about senate reform, Harper didn't wait long to reward failure with these cushy appointments..
hangman - 13 years ago
Stephen Harper ,
Still abusing power and disrespecting the people of Canada.
people are going to start to realize they made a Huge mistake voting for Harper and giving him a majority.
Harper Lies... - 13 years ago
What Stephen Harper said:
"I will cease patronage appointments to the Senate. Only candidates elected by the people will be named to the Upper House."
"… the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the Favored Cronies of the Prime Minister."
"I don't plan to appoint senators; that's not my intention."...
What he did:
Harper Appoints 18 Senators in 2008...
Harper appoints 9 to Senate in 2009...
Harper appoints 8 to Senate in 2010...
And the Lies continue in 2011...
Courtesy The Harper Regime.
Neal - 13 years ago
Government shouldn't be appointing Senators, period.
Rob in Calgary - 13 years ago
Our current Constitution calls for an appointed Senate. Until that changes, then the sitting Prime Minister can appoint whomever they want.
An honest Canadian - 13 years ago
Why not. The Conservatives have tried to make it an elected Senate, until they do that they must play by the Liberal rules. Maybe now we can have an elected Senate.
C. Van Ryk - 13 years ago
I have voted Conservative for the past 20+ years. I sincerely hope there is someone other than Stephen Harper to vote for in 4 years time. He talks about getting down to business and focusing on the economy, but what he does is something else altogether. He continues to create one issue after another.
Tom - 13 years ago
What a slap in the face to all the people in the Lac St.Louis riding where Larry Smith came in third!
Besides Larry Smith is on record saying he gave up income to become a senator in the first place so explain to me why he would accept such a low paying job not once but twice!!!
Talk about a loser!!!
Anne Owens - 13 years ago
Absolutely not! Time they made their way in the real world. No more sitting around waiting for another golden parachute, plus double dipping.
I won't hold my breath though.
Maureen - 13 years ago
I am just surprised that he didn't appoint Bruce Carson to the senate.
Everett - 13 years ago
Harper is showing his contempt to voters that have said no to these candidates.
hangman - 13 years ago
Harpers new Senate,
made up of a bunch of Losers!
who woulda thought eh?!
hangman - 13 years ago
No.
Harper likes to reward Failure.
otherwise known as having a 'shallow talent pool'.
Go figure!
These latest senate appointments remind me of the now infamous television debate between Brian Mulroney and John Turner when Mr. Mulroney exclaimed with disgust regarding the Liberal patronage appointments "you sir had a choice...". That was the turning point that changed the course of the election. The Canadian public had enough of this rewarding partisan hacks with Senate positions and the corresponding salaries and ridiculous pensions. The PC party was later decimated as Canadians found them to be just as corrupt and dishonorable.
The public response was the grass roots experiment known as the Reform Party of Canada. As a strong supporter, I felt that Preston Manning was a visionary with respect to knowing what changes were necessary to restore honour to Canadian politics. Mr. Harper's promise on his ascent in politics was always his support of this philosophy. I now feel physically ill to think my original support of this ideology has eventually led to the current mean-spirited, hypocritical and autocratic government. How can a party claiming to be based on "Christian values" behave exactly the opposite and then are rewarded with a majority government for their actions?
This should not degenerate into an uninformed discussion about the Senate. An elected Senate is anathema to a democratic Parliamentary system. An elected Senate with term limits will simply become another power centre but, unfortunately, not one that will fill the role of a Senate in our Parliamentary system. What is needed is not elections but for the power of appointment to be taken away from the Prime Minister or any Party political machine - something that will inevitably follow an elected Senate, by the way. The independence of the Senate must be restored. Triple E is a seductive slogan but, like all the CPC slogans it is designed to end a democratic institution and bring it under the power of political elites.
In the meantime, the focus should be on preventing Harper from abusing his power and misusing the Senate as a further tool in his ongoing attempts to subvert democracy in Canada. He must not be allowed to touch the Senate. He will not be stopped if people are again sidetracked into a fruitless discussion of the merits of different ideas of the Senate's construction. The role of the Senate is what matters and it is that that Harper wants to change and control.
Disgusting move by a government which uses "We're Sneaky & Dishonest" as their motto. Canadians have rejected these folks at the poll ... they are, therefore, ethically disqualified to accept Senate seats. That Harper offered the seats says a lot about Harper ... that these goofs accepted the ethically corrupt offer says even more about them.
Conservatives, dining at the trough. Exactly the thing that Harper and the Reformers and the Canadian Alliance always said they were against. turns out they're all members of the CRAP anyway, so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised.
I want MY Canada back, not Harper's tainted leftovers.
The West Wants In? How about sending someone of quality instead of this lot? The West can sure as hell do better.
I have to wonder if there is not an agenda at work here. When you want to change an institution you make bad appointments to rile the people so they reward you for changing an institution you were instrumental in destroying with unqualified people/appointments.
Susan McFarlane - you are misguided. Harper has a majority in senate, there is no impediment to his agenda on that front. He could save Canada a few hundred thousand dollars by leaving the seats vacant until such time as the provinces involved can get their act together and provide a system for elected senators. No matter which way you look at it, Mr Harper is giving three of his pals a cushy job for as many years as they want. When you defend giving 50 mil to Huntsville for being good enough to vote for your good friend Tony it can be no surprise that you give 132,000 of our tax money every year to three of your buddies who unaccountably failed miserably to convince the electorate of their worth. The political justification is that he wants to "protect" his senate majority for as long as he can. Who knows, maybe the elected senators would not jump to his command. Fine principles these, Mr Harper - goes with the "open and accountable" thing. You OK with this stuff out there in Frontierland, Alberta?
I think of this as a tempest in a teapot.Why would he not fill the empty spots in the Senate.There will never be senate reform while "the other side" holds the balance of power.Would any of you vote for a change which puts holes in the Gravy Train you were expecting for your life? It`s Layton`s job to be critical but is it yours CBC ? It`s always been thus in Canadian politics and one would think by listening to this that Stephen Harper has done something new and different.
That is absolutly normal, when 40% of electorate vote conservative, and according to the rules, whether good or bad, gave the majority to this party, so called "consertive" in order to hide it's real colors, we all canadians have the goverment we deserve. More, be aware of what is coming next. Was for that that this country went to war so many times? Shame!!!
History has the ability to write itself again, it shows now in this country.
Are we going back to the 1930's? or are we going back to an absolutist monachy? Well, if we do not wake up, it is what we as canadians deserve. It is ower duty to unmask this masquerade,
Now I wonder where were all these fervent and true defenders of Canada's Freedom of Rights "and decency/democracy when the ballot boxes were on display? Gosh, I wish that 40% who voted for Harpy had been more strident and decisive at those ballot booths- now we are stuck with four more years of belt tightening andmisery instead . At least when the Libs were in power - they shared enough of the goodies with the citizens even though they had the (usual and ongoing ) skull duggery happening in the public coffers! With Cns - no one ever has an easy ride - enjoy it folks - you let it happen!
That should have read that Rex Murphy is spreading the mischief that Climate Change is not real.
The question should not be whether these particular appointments should have been made. It is whether they are competent for the position which is more demanding than the vast majority of people realise if it is done conscientiously. What is Harper's purpose in making the appointments.
Is it, as the last three appointments were, to have a majority that would push through a Conservative Bill without debate. For the first time in history that it has happened.
The Senate is a vital part of the Institutional apparatus of democracy. Without it, any government with a majority will be even more dictatorial and wrong more often as there will no longer be oversight.
However, the purpose of the Senate is not an immediate issue and Harper can do nothing about its existence or its constitution. The question is the further undermining of democracy with the removal of all powers of the Senate; not by constitutional means but by bribery. We now have have a Conservative Caucus in the Senate that is paid only to rubber stamp Harper's Bills.
In other words, it is not only an attack on democracy; it is actual fraud.
As a thought. if all those who express their displeasure at the usurpation of democracy by Harper on places like this were to actually extend that to contacting their MPs and Harper himself, and to have their contacts do the same, something good might happen. I, personally, have been writing to newspapers and TV stations across Canada for a long time now and particularly on this government's record and intentions but not a word is ever seen in print or spoken. That, though, long ago, I had articles and letters in many major outlets across the country over a couple of issues of the times.
Canadian media is dominated by Right Wing ownership and, where it is not, by timidity. Nothing but a genuine grass roots swell and activity is going to change things and stop Canada on its slide back to the nineteenth century.
It is almost funny to see how many people have bought into the myth of the CPC as grass roots. It is actually an elite ideology that, by well financed propaganda has convinced the people that it is for the people.
The CBC is a lost cause in this. It has the garrulous goose, Rex Murphy parading his support for the anti democrats and, for his paycheque,denying and convincing the gullible that the existential threat of Climate Change. It has "Power Panels" of second raters and ideologues pushing their biased opinions on the people.
If Canada is to be saved from further disaster it is people like those who are writing here who will do it. But, they have to understand that they can by concerted actions that go beyond complaint.
The majority of Canadians voted for this man, now we need to see if he really IS a Leader. Otherwise we have four painful years ahead. Now that he finally has the control he has always coveted ,there are no excuses left and he must deliver what he has promised. Sadly, todays Senate appointments of defeated candidates was an example of someone that is not a Leader at all.
Harper is not only giving his big fatcat corporate buddies Billions of taxpayers money to walk off with, now he is going and giving those who Lost and Failed to get elected , nice cushy jobs with a bunch of taxpayers money to boot as pay.
the people did Not hire/vote for them , and they still get back in and a nice cushy seat.
doesn't speak well of Harper and how he views the people and taxpayers of Canada.
he is abusive, contemptuous and disrespectful and he thinks nothing of it.
Well lily it seems Mannings constituents didn't like him, but like all things in Harperland, as long as it wears blue all is good right. If this had been Chretein putting Anne McLellan into the senate after her loss in edmonton, I am sure you would have been pretty upset at the dictatorial appointing of a loser. But be proud of someone that clearly wasn't wanted by his constituents even after "delivering", yet gets a nice cushy job from harpy. Conservative democracy at its finest.
Thank goodness Manning is back in the Senate. The riding of Avalon needs him. He has a proven track record of delivering; when he was an MP and when he was a Senator. We needed him back and I'm so so glad that he is.
I sure hope that all of you that voted Con are embarassed today, either that or you're dumb as a post. Four years to go! Enjoy the dictatorship!
The fact of politics is that you get what you voted for.
For those of you who thought, maybe with a majority, Harper would be more 'fair' in running government; guess again idiots!
To all those Canadians who wanted a stable Conservative majority government well you got it in spades. Four years of contempt for the Canadian voter ; total disregard for Parliamentary procedure and law; arrogance and smugness. Thanks so much.
Harper game,
mislead and lie to the people to grab votes and then turn around say scr*w them and go and appoint a bunch of Losers to the Senate.
Idon't care if this is to pursue senate reform. Is so disrespectful to the electorate on many levels.
The supreme arrogance of Brian Mulroney caused him to attain a 10.7% approval rating with Canadians, which led to a resounding defeat, the Conservatives losing party status, having only 2 (yes, two) seats. Karma is a universal Law and cannot be eluded. Such arrogance by Mr. Harper will lead to his downfall too. I guess I should call him Stevie because my grandfather taught me to only give the appellation "Mr." to someone I respect.
Good appointments to senate, but very bad optics. I supported the Tories for 40 years, what was he thinking, or who is advising the PM? That makes me worry.
Boy talk about sour grapes, the Liberals and NDP thinks Harper should have appointed Liberals and NDP losers to the senate.
Hey Cathy ...
Good observation, i too was equally disturbed by that same image ...
If there is one thing that illustrates the lie that the Speaker's charge of Harper's contempt of Parliament was the result of a partisan ploy by the opposition, it's Harper's utterly shameless appointment to the Senate of three Conservative election losers, as announced by the release issued minutes after he had taken questions on his new cabinet.
A shameless, hypocritical, cowardly, despicable and above all contemptuous act, brought to you by Harper's...
Strong
Stable
National
Majority
Conservative
Government
Harper insists that his mandate is about creating jobs. Now we know what he means.
I thought there was something wrong when I saw the camera shot of Harper and the Governor General walking towards the new Cabinet (sitting in their photo positions) and the GG interlaced his fingers, raised his arms and shook them at the Cabinet members in a definite "Champions!" gesture.
It kind of looked as if he was partial to the Conservatives. Shouldn't he be impartial?
Maybe I was reading it wrong....
I've said this before, but, it's worth repeating ... ian chapstick sure is a jerk ...
The appointments show utter contempt for the voters and makes a complete mockery of the Senate. That's how dictatorships are born.
The senate appointments, if they are necessary, should be an opportunity to recognize some of the considerable talent of this country beyond those so recently shown the door by the voters. Is this an admission by the PM that he does not have a very large circle of potential appointees?
No, of course not. It's wrong-headed, unethical, cynical, contemptuous, disrespectful . . . wait minute, it's perfectly in line with the Harper regime. Get used to this, Canada, the Conservative bullies have only just begun!
obviously, "stay the course", means continue to abuse power and show contempt and disrespect fro the People of Canada.
NO !
But, really ... does this really surprise anybody ... inflated cabinet and Senate appointments ... more broken promises ...
Anyway ... we will have 4 more years of this arrogant and gratuitous gluttony ... Jack's hypocritical and manufactured indignation won't cut it either ...
I speak on behalf of the 40% of eligible voters who were too lazy to vote and the 23% of eligible voters who voted for the Harpies (and therefore don't pay attention to anything) when I say: "Who Cares?" Is anyone actually surprised at this man thumbing his nose at Canadians? He's been doing it since He deposed Manning.
This should be a fun four years everyone. It hasn't taken long for both the government, and the official opposition, to make a lot of Canadian voters look like morons (not to mention themselves). I hope everyone remembers how they voted when the next election comes around. Not necessarily a low point in our Democracy, but certainly a shameful one!
The timing of the announcement of the new senators certainly could have been delayed a day. But namimg 2 former senators back to the senate should be OK if they have an abilty to make a contribution.
They can do whatever they want. However, when you keep saying that you want an elected senate, and keep appointing uneleted senator, you start wondering if the prime minister is credible or if he is serious.
If there is a new elected senate, I hope it will be partisan free, completetly independant from parliment. A real legislative power that the government has to beg and convince to pass values and bills. Parliment would not have a single influence on it, it also has the last word on everything wheather approved or rejected by parliment.
Losing an election should not mean no re-appointment to the Senate. They should not be re-appointed simply because they thought so little of the position, they gave it up. Surely, the PM can find individuals who would treasure the position as Senator and never give it up no matter what. Look around PM Harper; find some candidates who would give their all the the position.
Well Canada, you got what you voted for. What a disgrace this government is. When are the people EVER going to wake up to the fact that we are headed for a DICTATORSHIP ??????????
The voters have spoken. They defeated these candidates. The contempt of the voters continues.
Why am I not surprised?
As a Canadian republican I believe in the election of senators. However, if Stephen Harper is still planning on reforming the Senate he will need senatorial approval. In this case he's playing the game well, and although I hardly ever lend support to the Conservative government, I do believe that the system must be changed from within. The best way to do that is to use the system that is in place to consolidate the power and support needed to effect changes.
Leopards don't change their spots. Did the electorate really think Harper would change. Partisan politics supporting the Harper Conservatives is always trumps taxpayer needs.
This is so wrong in so many ways.
Does this hold true for ordinary (nonappointed) MP's also? Seems fair to me that they should also not have to give up their income permanently on a chance of being voted in; as usual - two levels of treatment for the Senators - who are political appointees_ and the MP's who ttruly represent voting , tax paying Canadians!
For a guy that was so enthusiastic about senate reform, Harper didn't wait long to reward failure with these cushy appointments..
Stephen Harper ,
Still abusing power and disrespecting the people of Canada.
people are going to start to realize they made a Huge mistake voting for Harper and giving him a majority.
What Stephen Harper said:
"I will cease patronage appointments to the Senate. Only candidates elected by the people will be named to the Upper House."
"… the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the Favored Cronies of the Prime Minister."
"I don't plan to appoint senators; that's not my intention."...
What he did:
Harper Appoints 18 Senators in 2008...
Harper appoints 9 to Senate in 2009...
Harper appoints 8 to Senate in 2010...
And the Lies continue in 2011...
Courtesy The Harper Regime.
Government shouldn't be appointing Senators, period.
Our current Constitution calls for an appointed Senate. Until that changes, then the sitting Prime Minister can appoint whomever they want.
Why not. The Conservatives have tried to make it an elected Senate, until they do that they must play by the Liberal rules. Maybe now we can have an elected Senate.
I have voted Conservative for the past 20+ years. I sincerely hope there is someone other than Stephen Harper to vote for in 4 years time. He talks about getting down to business and focusing on the economy, but what he does is something else altogether. He continues to create one issue after another.
What a slap in the face to all the people in the Lac St.Louis riding where Larry Smith came in third!
Besides Larry Smith is on record saying he gave up income to become a senator in the first place so explain to me why he would accept such a low paying job not once but twice!!!
Talk about a loser!!!
Absolutely not! Time they made their way in the real world. No more sitting around waiting for another golden parachute, plus double dipping.
I won't hold my breath though.
I am just surprised that he didn't appoint Bruce Carson to the senate.
Harper is showing his contempt to voters that have said no to these candidates.
Harpers new Senate,
made up of a bunch of Losers!
who woulda thought eh?!
No.
Harper likes to reward Failure.
otherwise known as having a 'shallow talent pool'.
Go figure!