Justin Trudeau is reportedly planning to appoint new senators before stepping down in March, aiming to influence Parliament’s future.
Ottawa: So, it looks like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is gearing up to make some last-minute Senate appointments before he steps down in March. He’s got 10 spots to fill, and it seems he wants to leave his mark on Parliament for years to come. These senators can stick around until they hit 75, so it’s a pretty big deal.
A source mentioned that the selection process is already in motion, and Trudeau’s office confirmed that the advisory board is working on it. He’s been in the news lately after proroguing Parliament, and he’s set to leave once the Liberal Party picks a new leader on March 9.
Trudeau has always talked about the independence of the senators he’s appointed since 2016, but let’s be real—he’s also brought in a bunch of high-profile Liberals. The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, isn’t too happy about this. They’re worried that these Trudeau-appointed senators might block their plans if they win the next election, which is expected in the spring.
Right now, there are 12 Conservative senators in the 105-seat chamber. Some folks are saying that for someone who pushed for an independent Senate, Trudeau has ended up filling it with a lot of Liberals or those who back his policies. Conservative Senator Claude Carignan even mentioned that Trudeau might not have the legitimacy to make these appointments after he resigns.
When Trudeau took office in 2015, there were 22 vacancies in the Senate. Since then, he’s appointed 90 senators, and with 10 more spots opening up soon, it’s clear he wants to make a lasting impact.
Historically, Canadian senators have been tied to political parties, but Trudeau shook things up a bit. He kicked all Liberal senators out of the caucus back in 2014 and changed how senators are nominated. Now, they’re often called “independent,” but many still have strong ties to the Liberal Party.
In recent years, he’s appointed former Liberal MPs and even some donors to the party. It’s a mixed bag, really. Some senators say they’ll keep acting independently, but there’s a lot of chatter about how they’ll vote on government bills, especially if the Conservatives take over.
For now, the 12 Conservative senators are acting as the Official Opposition, but if the Conservatives win the next election, things could get interesting. It’s still up in the air who would take on that role, and some senators are waiting to see how the election shakes out.
Carignan raised a good point: if these Trudeau-appointed senators want to act as the Official Opposition, they might need to join a political party. It’s a tricky situation, and the next few months will be crucial for the Senate’s future.
