Harper will take ‘every opportunity’ to make Senate more accountable: Poilievre

OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper will take “every opportunity” to make the Senate “democratic and accountable to Canadians” following Friday’s Supreme Court ruling, says Democratic Reform Minister Pierre Poilievre.

The Conservative government has asked the top court for guidance on reforming or abolishing the scandal-plagued Senate, and the much-awaited decision will be delivered on Friday.

“I don’t know what the court will say but what I can tell you is this: the prime minister will take every opportunity that the court gives him to make the Senate democratic and accountable to Canadians,” Poilievre said during a lunchtime speech to the Economic Club of Canada.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I don't know what the court will say but what I can tell you is this: the prime minister will take every opportunity that the court gives him to make the Senate democratic and accountable to Canadians," Poilievre said during a lunchtime speech to the Economic Club of Canada.

“And that is consistent with the mission of our government, to stand on the side of the common sense of everyday Canadians, those who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules.”

The upper house has come under increased scrutiny following the so-called Senate spending scandal. It has resulted in an RCMP investigation into suspended Conservative senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, and Pamela Wallin, and retired Liberal senator Mac Harb.

Fraud and breach of trust charges have been laid against Brazeau and Harb, while charges are likely coming for Duffy. The investigation into Wallin continues.

The Supreme Court ruling will lay out the road map for the Senate’s future. The Harper government argues it can unilaterally impose term limits and create a provincial election process for senators without opening the Constitution.

Some provinces, such as Ontario and Saskatchewan, accept the arguments for setting term limits of nine or ten years, respectively, while most say such changes would require a constitutional amendment supported by seven provinces with 50 per cent of the population, which is known as the 7-50 amending formula.

Alberta and Saskatchewan also agree with the federal government on creating an election process without opening the Constitution.

Poilievre pointed to Alberta as an example of a province that, since 1989, has held provincial elections to recommend senators for appointment by the prime minister.

“Naturally we want to take that approach nationally, to give all Canadians the same opportunity that Albertans have begun to enjoy,” he said.

“Some have questioned the Constitutionality of that approach, and so we have asked our top court to tell us whether or not we can proceed in this way.”

He made no mention, however, of abolishing the upper house.

The Conservatives have asked the court if abolition would require the consent of seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the population, or unanimous consent.

The federal government, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta argued 7-50 is sufficient, while all other provinces said unanimity is required.

Poilievre, who is also the lead minister on the government’s Fair Elections Act, also said in his speech that the government is weighing proposed amendments to the bill, but some form of identification will be necessary to vote.

– with files from The Canadian Press