Post by bot on Jan 29, 2014 22:00:46 GMT -5
When a public institution like the Senate fails to serve the public interest, a leader must take bold steps to change it.
Today I did just that, accomplishing more Senate reform in one day, than Mr. Harper has in the past 8 years.
Please read this important message -- and then I encourage you to add your name to show your support.
Canadians have made up their minds. The Senate is broken, and needs to be fixed.
As I see it, the Senate is suffering from two central problems: partisanship and patronage.
Paired with patronage, the pervasive issue of partisanship and control in the Senate is a deeply negative force. We need immediate action to address this.
As of today, only elected Members of the House of Commons will serve as members of the Liberal Caucus.
Further, the 32 formerly Liberal Senators are, as of now, independent of the national Liberal Caucus. They are no longer part of our parliamentary team.
I challenge the Prime Minster to match this action -- and I'm inviting you to add your name to join this call.
Meanwhile, by ending partisanship now, we can also end patronage, going forward.
The antiquated convention that sees Senators appointed by one person, and one person only, has led this historic public institution to be run like the Prime Minister's private club. That's just plain wrong.
That is why I'm committing today that, if I earn the privilege of serving Canadians as their Prime Minister, I will put in place an open, transparent and public process for appointing and confirming Senators. And that is why I am committing to appoint independent Senators only.
This decisive action is one that I do not take lightly. And I believe this is the most meaningful action possible without changing the Constitution.
Despite great promises, Stephen Harper has had 8 years to offer meaningful Senate reform, but instead we got Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau.
Meanwhile Thomas Mulcair is promising to abolish the Senate, which is either deliberately and cynically misleading, or empty and foolish. His promise would require the most significant amendment to the Constitution since the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Mr. Mulcair may want to spend the next decade arguing about the Constitution. I want to spend it helping Canadians solve their problems.
Add your name now -- and join the call for Stephen Harper to end partisanship and patronage in the Senate:
www.liberal.ca/senate-reform-action/
Thank you.
Justin Trudeau
Leader, Liberal Party of Canada
Today I did just that, accomplishing more Senate reform in one day, than Mr. Harper has in the past 8 years.
Please read this important message -- and then I encourage you to add your name to show your support.
Canadians have made up their minds. The Senate is broken, and needs to be fixed.
As I see it, the Senate is suffering from two central problems: partisanship and patronage.
Paired with patronage, the pervasive issue of partisanship and control in the Senate is a deeply negative force. We need immediate action to address this.
As of today, only elected Members of the House of Commons will serve as members of the Liberal Caucus.
Further, the 32 formerly Liberal Senators are, as of now, independent of the national Liberal Caucus. They are no longer part of our parliamentary team.
I challenge the Prime Minster to match this action -- and I'm inviting you to add your name to join this call.
Meanwhile, by ending partisanship now, we can also end patronage, going forward.
The antiquated convention that sees Senators appointed by one person, and one person only, has led this historic public institution to be run like the Prime Minister's private club. That's just plain wrong.
That is why I'm committing today that, if I earn the privilege of serving Canadians as their Prime Minister, I will put in place an open, transparent and public process for appointing and confirming Senators. And that is why I am committing to appoint independent Senators only.
This decisive action is one that I do not take lightly. And I believe this is the most meaningful action possible without changing the Constitution.
Despite great promises, Stephen Harper has had 8 years to offer meaningful Senate reform, but instead we got Mike Duffy, Pamela Wallin and Patrick Brazeau.
Meanwhile Thomas Mulcair is promising to abolish the Senate, which is either deliberately and cynically misleading, or empty and foolish. His promise would require the most significant amendment to the Constitution since the creation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Mr. Mulcair may want to spend the next decade arguing about the Constitution. I want to spend it helping Canadians solve their problems.
Add your name now -- and join the call for Stephen Harper to end partisanship and patronage in the Senate:
www.liberal.ca/senate-reform-action/
Thank you.
Justin Trudeau
Leader, Liberal Party of Canada