PM accepts Klein's modest Senate reform
Chretien will accept provincial lists of potential senators
 
Anne Dawson; With files from Graham Thomson and Andrea Janus 
CanWest News Service

Thursday, July 10, 2003
 
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Jean Chretien is expected to unveil a plan to modestly reform the Senate at next month's Liberal caucus retreat by announcing he will accept lists of potential senators from the provinces to fill future Senate vacancies, says Maclean's magazine.

The magazine says the strategy behind the modest Senate reform is aimed directly at weakening Liberal leadership front-runner Paul Martin's ability to use appointments to the Red Chamber as rewards for loyal service.

"The new Chretien strategy to be unveiled in North Bay (at the caucus retreat) will be the most direct blow to Martin yet. Chretien plans to announce to his caucus that an essential element of his legacy will be Senate reform and that he intends to use the existing vacancies to kickstart the process," the newsmagazine says in its July 14 edition.

"The premiers would provide Ottawa with choices, from which the appointments would be made.

"Apparently, Chretien has already discussed the idea with Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Alberta's Ralph Klein, telling the Alberta CEO: 'I'll give you the principle if you give me an acceptable senator.' "

When asked Wednesday, Klein was pleased but cautious about the idea.

"That's good," said Klein, in Charlottetown at the annual premiers' conference. "I haven't heard it directly from Mr. Chretien but it would be wonderful if he did that."

Alberta's senator-in-waiting Bert Brown says Senate reform can only be effective if most, or all, senators are elected rather than appointed.

"I don't know that you could expect earthshaking events from the Senate until you had a majority of senators that were elected," said Brown, who was encouraged by the news that the prime minister will discuss Senate reform.

Brown said if Chretien appoints elected senators before he leaves office, he would establish a practice that might lead to a full triple-E Senate.

Brown also said that while he would like to be appointed, he would find the job a little intimidating.

"I'd probably be scared as hell, just because I know it would shine a spotlight on me that's never been shone before," he said.

While the country was reacting to word of possible Senate reform, a spokesman for Chretien insisted the prime minister has had no Senate discussions.

Chretien has madeit a practice to reward loyal followers with Senate appointments, often appointing individuals who are almost 75 years old, the automatic retirement age for the Senate, so he can make faster appointments and reward even more party faithful.

Although Alberta has been demanding a Triple-E -- elected, equal and effective -- Senate since the 1980s, and elected two senators-in-waiting several years ago, Chretien has consistently ignored provincial pleas to appoint them.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney appointed Stan Waters in 1990. Waters who was elected a senator-in-waiting in Alberta in 1989, and five others who were put forward on a list of potential nominees from Quebec in 1987 and 1988.

The current configuration in the 105-seat upper chamber gives the Liberals a majority with 64 seats, followed by the Conservatives at 30, Independents four and the Canadian Alliance one.

There are six vacancies at this time -- two in Ontario, and one each in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Alberta. By Chretien's February 2004 retirement date, there will be three more vacancies.

Liberal Senator David Smith said he was unaware of the plan, but recommended against it without a thorough debate.

A successful Toronto lawyer and a long-time Chretien loyalist who served as his campaign co-chair during each of his three majority election wins, Smith was appointed to the Senate last fall.