OTTAWA – Prime Minister Stephen Harper has named five new senators.
Among them is Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu of Sherbrooke, who founded a support group for crime victims and their families after his daughter, Julie, was raped and murdered by a repeat offender in 2002.
The other new senators are Bob Runciman (Ont.), Vim Kochhar (Ont.), Elizabeth (Beth) Marshall (Newfoundland-Labrador) and Rose-May Poirier (New Brunswick).
In making the appointments, Harper said the move is another step toward "implementing the government’s tackling-crime agenda and respecting the will of the democratically elected House of Commons."
"Our government is serious about getting tough on crime. Since we were first elected, we have made it one of our highest priorities," the prime minister said in a written statement. "The Liberals have abused their Senate majority by obstructing and eviscerating law and order measures that are urgently needed and strongly supported by Canadians."
The appointments are effective immediately, with the exception of Poirier’s appointment, which is effective Feb. 28, 2010.
The Tories now hold a 51-49 edge in the Senate.
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.