Friday 31 January 2020

With two new Senate appointments, Trudeau has now appointed half of the upper house

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies





Replying to @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Trudeau The Younger, his CBC minions, Higgy & all the local politicians and nearly every lawyer in NB know why I would not weep over the demise of Judith Keating particularly on my birthday N'esy Pas?


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/with-two-new-senate-appointments.html

 


 
 

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/senator-judith-keating-new-brunswick-1.6105371

 

Sen. Judith Keating, N.B.'s first female deputy attorney general, has died

A leading constitutional expert, Keating served as chief legal adviser to PC and Liberal premiers

She was 64, her office confirmed Friday.

Keating was appointed to the Senate 18 months ago, on Jan. 31, 2020, and sat with the Independent Senators Group.

She also worked as a chief legal adviser to both Progressive Conservative and Liberal premiers, and chaired the province's working group on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Keating was the founder and first president of New Brunswick's Women in Law and editor-in-chief of the Solicitor's Journal of the Canadian Bar Association. 

In a statement on Friday, Sen. George Furey, Speaker of the Senate, said he was deeply saddened by the news of Keating's death.

"Of her many contributions, Senator Keating will be remembered as a tireless advocate for the equal status of the English and French languages in New Brunswick, the equal and just treatment of women in the legal profession, and the promotion of Indigenous issues in her role as provincial chair of the Working Group on Truth and Reconciliation in New Brunswick," Furey said.

Tributes, condolences pour in

Tributes immediately poured in following the news on Friday, with political leaders and fellow senators expressing condolences.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Keating's death "a tremendous loss" and praised her "remarkable legacy."

In a statement Friday afternoon, Trudeau said Keating would be remembered for her many accomplishments and firsts, calling her a distinguished legal expert and a champion for women's empowerment in the legal profession.

"Ms. Keating was an active member of her local community, and made many important contributions over her decades of public service in the Government of New Brunswick," Trudeau said. 


Sen. Judith Keating, pictured here outside her office in the East Bloc, served as deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of New Brunswick and chief legislative counsel and chief legal adviser to the premier during her more than 30 years with the provincial government. (Senate of Canada)

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I offer our sincere condolences to Ms. Keating's family, friends, and colleagues."

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs also offered condolences on behalf of all New Brunswickers in a statement issued Friday afternoon.

He and his wife Marcia were saddened to learn of the passing of Keating, who joined the provincial government in 1985 and retired in 2017, he said.

"Judith was passionate about the law and public policy and devoted her life to both," said Higgs.

"During her career, she worked tirelessly to promote the equal and just treatment of women in the legal profession."

In 2015, she received the Muriel Corkery-Ryan Q.C. Award from the Canadian Bar Association's New Brunswick branch in recognition of her outstanding work in the field.

Sen. Percy Mockler, who sponsored Keating when she entered the Senate, said in a Twitter post that he was saddened by the news.

"I will miss you, dear friend," Mockler said.

"I am gutted by this news," Independent Sen. Paula Simons of Alberta posted.

"Judith was so smart, so funny, so insightful, so hard-working. Everything you could want in a senator, in a colleague, in a friend."

Pioneer in legal field

A pioneering woman in the legal field, Keating was one of 36 senators, five of them from New Brunswick, to sign a letter in support of Clinic 554 in Fredericton in 2020.

Clinic 554, the only location in New Brunswick that offered surgical abortions outside hospitals, was facing the threat of closure because of a lack of government funding.

"While we appreciate that the provision of services per se … is a provincial jurisdiction, the truth is that … the services offered by the clinic are different in nature because they have been prescribed constitutionally by the Supreme Court," Keating said.

"So they're not on the same level as other services, and so the obligation of the province is to ensure that proper access is provided."

Instead, Keating said, the province has "consistently restricted the right to access by imposing some regulatory controls."

Keating's office said Friday that there are no details yet regarding a funeral or memorial service.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie Sutherland is a web writer with CBC News based in Saint John. You can reach her at marie.sutherland@cbc.ca.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices

 

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies





Replying to @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks anyone can Google Judith Keating and David Amos to verify what I am trying to tell is true The first 4 pages of this old file tell quite a tale N'esy Pas? 



https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right




 



https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/with-two-new-senate-appointments.html






Replying to @alllibertynews and 49 others
Content disabled 
Methinks after my running in 7 elections and suing the Queen as well Trudeau should go figure how many times this lawyer and I crossed paths in NB since 2004 N'esy Pas?


https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/01/with-two-new-senate-appointments.html



 



https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-new-senators-upper-house-1.5447684







Replying to @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks everybody in NB knows the last thing Judith Keating is Independent. Even Trudeau The Younger can Google her name & mine to verify that this very mindless unethical lawyer & I have battling tooth and nail since 2004 N'esy Pas?


 



https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-new-senators-upper-house-1.5447684



With two new Senate appointments, Trudeau has now appointed half of the upper house

Trudeau has tapped two senior provincial servants for New Brunswick, Saskatchewan vacancies



John Paul Tasker · CBC News · Posted: Jan 31, 2020 2:04 PM ET



Judith Keating (left) will represent New Brunswick. William Brent Cotter (right) will fill one of the Saskatchewan seats. (Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal/University of Saskatchewan)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named two new senators to the upper house — senior provincial public servants with experience working on Indigenous files.

Trudeau has now appointed 52 senators since taking office in 2015 — an unusually large number in such a short period of time. Former prime minister Stephen Harper let vacancies in the place pile up as the 2013-15 expenses scandal raged on.

Judith Keating will represent New Brunswick. William Brent Cotter will fill one of the Saskatchewan seats. The Senate is now closer to gender parity, with 48 women and 52 men in the chamber (five seats remain vacant).

Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics — part of a push to reconstitute the chamber as a body composed largely of Independent senators.

Like the 50 senators Trudeau appointed before today, the two new picks are expected to sit as members of the Independent Senators Group or as non-affiliated senators. There are now five different caucuses and groups in the Senate — and the Liberal/Conservative duopoly that once defined the chamber is defunct.

Keating is a leading legal and constitutional expert and was the first woman to serve as deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of New Brunswick. (A deputy minister is the top bureaucrat in a government department.)

She worked as a chief legal adviser to both Progressive Conservative and Liberal premiers. She chaired the province's working group on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

A pioneering woman in the legal field, Keating was the founder and first president of New Brunswick's Women in Law and editor-in-chief of the Solicitor's Journal of the Canadian Bar Association. Keating is an expert in administrative law, constitutional law and legislative interpretation.
Cotter, another lawyer, is described by the Prime Minister's Office as one of Saskatchewan's "foremost legal ethicists."

Like Keating, Cotter served as his province's deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general. He currently chairs the Government of Saskatchewan's Public Complaints Commission, a governmental body that hears complaints about alleged municipal police misconduct.

Cotter is also a member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada Advisory Committee on Implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.

"Judith Keating and W. Brent Cotter have led exceptional careers in service of their provinces. Their dedication to Canada's regional, cultural and linguistic diversity will make them important voices for their communities, and help the Senate better serve all Canadians," Trudeau said in a statement.

Keating and Cotter applied to be senators. Under reforms introduced by the Trudeau government, an independent appointments board compiles a list of eligible people to help the prime minister make his picks for the appointed chamber.

These appointments come on the same day Marc Gold, Trudeau's representative in the Senate, tapped two former Independent senators to sit as members of government caucus.
Manitoba Sen. Raymonde Gagné will be the deputy government representative or "legislative deputy," the second in command. Alberta Sen. Patti LaBoucane-Benson, a Métis, will be the government's liaison or whip — the person tasked with counting votes to make sure a government bill will pass through the Senate.

LaBoucane-Benson is the first Indigenous woman to hold a leadership position of this sort in the Red Chamber.

While described as "unaffiliated," the three representatives will be crucial to seeing the Liberal government's legislative agenda through the upper house.

Unlike the situation in years past, the government leader doesn't have a caucus of senators to rely on to see that government bills are passed. The new contingent of Independent senators also has been much more willing to amend bills, which has slowed down the pace of the legislative process.

About the Author

John Paul Tasker
Parliamentary Bureau
John Paul (J.P.) Tasker is a reporter in the CBC's Parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. He can be reached at john.tasker@cbc.ca.

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices




963 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.




David Amos
Methinks in the spirit of full disclosure I just got off the phone with W. Brent Cotter the former dean of law at the University of Saskatchewan Need I say that I was not impressed by his sarcasm about my concerns However everybody knows why I was not surprised N'esy Pas?













David Amos
Methinks folks should be impressed at the Crown Corp's newfound sense of fair play when it comes to hard ball politicking N'esy Pas? 

















Mitch Uhl
Until the power of the PMO is severely curtailed, and we have proportional representation, I wholeheartedly support a Canadian senate.


David Amos
Reply to @Mitch Uhl: Methinks many would agree that we require a new Charter N'esy Pas?














Bernard Cloutier
Our senate functions better and is less partisan then the elected senate in the US.


David Amos
Reply to @Bernard Cloutier: Dream on






















Claude DeRoche
Harper promised he would not nominate Senators, 
he nominated 56 mostly Conservative candidates who failed to get elected!

So much respect for the will of Canadian voters and his promise of an elected Senate! LOL!



David Amos
Reply to @Claude DeRoche: Methinks Harper showed his colours out of the gate when he appointed Mulroney's law firm partner to the Senate and made him a Minister as well N'esy Pas?

CBC News · Posted: Feb 06, 2006 10:47 AM ET

There were two surprises as the Harper cabinet was unveiled Monday: Former Liberal industry minister David Emerson has jumped ship to become the Conservative minister of international trade, and Michael Fortier, an unelected party operative, is the new minister of public works and government services.

Even more surprising, Prime Minister Stephen Harper will appoint Fortier to the Senate.

Harper said Fortier will run for a House of Commons seat in "the next federal election" rather than seeking one before that in a by-election.

It is an odd decision for Harper, who campaigned on a promise of an elected Senate and spoke against the idea of unelected ministers.

"If you look carefully at what I said in the election campaign, I did leave open that possibility," he told reporters after the cabinet was sworn in.

The Fortier appointment, he said, was a "flexible" way of dealing with realities his government faces.

"One is that we have to have a cabinet minister from Montreal. Michael Fortier is leaving a lucrative private-sector job to take this. I'm pleased that he is willing to do that.

Fortier, a Montreal lawyer and businessman, co-chaired Harper's campaign for the leadership of the new Conservative Party in 2004. This year, Fortier was co-chair of the party's national election campaign but did not run for a seat.

He was an also-ran in the 1998 Progressive Conservative leadership contest and ran unsuccessfully for Parliament in 2000.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Not long afterwards Harper appointed the lawyer Richard Bell to the bench in New Brunswick after he had overseen Harper's campaigns in New Brunswick and I had ran in both elections. Years later just before Harper had the writ dropped for the election of the 42nd Parliament he moved Bell to Federal Court. I met Richard Bell in Federal Court on December 14th, 2015 and he ethically recused himself.

CBC News · Posted: Jun 27, 2006 3:05 PM AT

New Brunswick lawyer Richard Bellhas been appointed to sit as a judge in the Court of Queen's Bench in Moncton,inPrime Minister Stephen Harper's first round of judicial appointments.

Bell,a lawyer inFredericton, is a former New Brunswick co-chair of Harper's political campaigns.

The federal Tories announced the appointment in Ottawa on Tuesday.

Bellhas been a lawyer for26 years and is bilingual.He alsohas an interesting political history.

A formerfederal Liberal,in 1997 he lost a controversial nomination race in the riding of Tobique-Mactaquac.

He switched to the Canadian Alliance, which later merged to become the Conservative Party of Canada.

Bell co-chaired Harper's campaign for the leadership of the new party in 2004.

He also co-chaired the party's election campaigns in New Brunswick in 2004 and 2006.














David Amos
Go figure why I have no respect for the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick. She cannot deny that she was the Chief Legal Advisor for Premier Gallant when I filed my lawsuit in Federal Court in Fredericton NB in September of 2015 while I was running in the election of the 42nd Parliament

Cleaning Up The Statute Book - Introduction - Judith Keating (03:17) - Décaper le corpus legislative

https://vimeo.com/165395797
















Paul Bourgoin
Canada has two new Senate appointments.
Who do they represent?
What do they do?



David Amos
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Not you and largely nothing 
David Amos Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Judith Keating, Q.C. is Chair of the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal and served in a variety of roles throughout her career, including as Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Legal Advisor to the Premier, New Brunswick’s First Nations Representative, and a provincial chair of the working group on Truth and Reconciliation. She was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick.

Methinks after my running in 7 elections and suing the Queen as well Trudeau's minions should go figure how many times this lawyer and I crossed paths in NB since 2004 Page 1 tells quite a tale all by itself N'esy Pas?

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 




John Milkovic
B.C., with Canada's third largest population of over 5 million, and Canada's second largest land area, is woefully underrepresented in the Senate. Of the 105 seats the minimum we should have is 15 seats.. We have, at last count, less than half at six....And right people in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta, which are overrepresented are saying....."So....what's wrong with that?"

David Amos
Reply to @John Milkovic: Methinks if folks bother to check my work they will see that I agree with you and your concerns about what is wrong with our purportedly "Just Democracy" N'esy Pas?














Steve Wilson
Cue the mindless rants from the right, they never bother to do anything like get elected and make an effort to change anything but from their sofas they have all the answers ...


David Amos  
Reply to @steve wilson: Methinks you are doing the exactly the same thing for the benefit of the Fake Left N'esy Pas?












David Amos
Methinks anyone can Google Judith Keating and David Amos to verify what I am trying to tell is true N'esy Pas?












David Amos
Pease Enjoy a little Deja Vu when a liberal leader defended Alberta' standing in the Senate

CBC News · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 10:10 AM ET

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced a Senate reform bill Wednesday that gives Canadians a say about who represents them.

The bill, which falls short of allowing full Senate elections calls for voters to choose preferred candidates to represent their provinces and territories.

The prime minister would make the final decision, based on voters' choices.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has lashed out against the bill, calling it irresponsible, but Harper says it is a step forward.

"This bill will allow us to move to a new era in Canadian democracy," Harper told his cheering caucus at a meeting Wednesday morning in Ottawa.

"Imagine that after a century and a half, democracy will finally come to the Senate of Canada."

Under the current system, the prime minister selects senators without having to seek any public input."

"Dion calls bill "completely irresponsible"

Dion said changes to the Senate should address more pressing concerns.

He said the current system doesn't make sense because a province like Nova Scotia is represented by 10 senators, while a province like Alberta, with about five times the population, only has six senators.

"I think what the prime minister wants to do is completely, completely irresponsible," Dion said in French, speaking to reporters a few hours after Harper's caucus meeting.

"We would be electing senators with the current distribution and the current distribution does penalize provinces, particularly the western provinces."



David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Six years later Dion was still beating on that drum

CBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2012 4:19 PM AT

Former federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is arguing that Premier David Alward's plan for Senate elections could provoke a constitutional crisis.

Dion said Alward's Senate election bill, which was unveiled last week, could ignite a constitutional debate over the amount of influence provinces have in the House of Commons and Senate.

New Brunswick has 10 senators, which is a disproportionately high number compared to its small population.

Dion, who is still a Liberal MP, said larger provinces will not be happy about that once Senate elections start.

"Alberta and British Columbia have only six senators out of 105. The very moment this Senate will be elected and powerful, they will be out of their mind. They will say, ‘It doesn't make sense,’" he said.

Dion said larger provinces will demand more Senate seats to reflect their bigger population and since that requires changing the Constitution, he said Canada will have a full-blown constitutional showdown on its hands.




David Amos 
Reply to @David Amos: Five more years later he was still beating on that drum

CBC Posted: Apr 25, 2014 6:23 PM ET
Stéphane Dion on Supreme Court's Senate reform decision 

 

Ronald McCallum
Reply to @David Amos:

""Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced a Senate reform bill Wednesday that gives Canadians a say about who represents them.

The bill, which falls short of allowing full Senate elections calls for voters to choose preferred candidates to represent their provinces and territories.

The prime minister would make the final decision, based on voters' choices. "

David, the problem with Stephen Harper is that he could NOT understand that any Constitutional reform of the Senate had to be done in conjunction with the Provinces as the Senate is a Constitutional Legislative body. The Constitution Act 1982, Part V --- Procedure For Amending Constitution of Canada, Section 42 clearly and concisely prescribes the Province's role in Senate reform:

"42. (1) An amendment to the Constitution of Canada in relation to the following matters may be made only in accordance with subsection 38(1):

(b) the powers of the Senate and the method of selecting Senators;

(c) the number of members by which a province is entitled to be represented in the Senate and the residence qualifications of Senators;"

This was reaffirmed in the Reference re: Senate Reform Decision by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2014:

"The implementation of consultative elections and senatorial term limits requires consent of the Senate, the House of Commons, and the legislative assemblies of at least seven provinces representing, in the aggregate, half of the population of all the provinces (s. 38 and s. 42(1) (b))."

Sources: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/

https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/13614/index.do


 
Paul Christensen
Reply to @Ronald McCallum: Conservatives don't like to.... or even wanna play by the rules in any way shape or form. That is borne out by their actions come election time. LOL the Conservative leadership race should be very entertaining if it has half the scandals of Kennys leadership run in AB. Certainly the RCMP/courts will be kept busy.....if they could just follow even their own rules
 
 
Ronald McCallum
Reply to @Paul Christensen:
" Reply to @Ronald McCallum: Conservatives don't like to.... or even wanna play by the rules in any way shape or form."

HOW VERY TRUE

Especially, if the Rules were adopted legally by Parliament, the Parliaments of the Canadian Provinces, and by the proclamation of the Constitution Act 1982 under the Liberals.


David Amos
Reply to @Ronald McCallum: There was more but I see that its gone now

Six years later Dion was still beating on that drum

CBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2012 4:19 PM AT

Former federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is arguing that Premier David Alward's plan for Senate elections could provoke a constitutional crisis.

Dion said Alward's Senate election bill, which was unveiled last week, could ignite a constitutional debate over the amount of influence provinces have in the House of Commons and Senate.

New Brunswick has 10 senators, which is a disproportionately high number compared to its small population.

Dion, who is still a Liberal MP, said larger provinces will not be happy about that once Senate elections start.

"Alberta and British Columbia have only six senators out of 105. The very moment this Senate will be elected and powerful, they will be out of their mind. They will say, ‘It doesn't make sense,’" he said.

Dion said larger provinces will demand more Senate seats to reflect their bigger population and since that requires changing the Constitution, he said Canada will have a full-blown constitutional showdown on its hands.


David Amos
Reply to @Ronald McCallum:
"Especially, if the Rules were adopted legally by Parliament, the Parliaments of the Canadian Provinces, and by the proclamation of the Constitution Act 1982 under the Liberals"

Why would Trudeau and his minions cover up the fact that I sued the Queen when Harper was the Prime Minister and MacKay was his Attorney General?

Whereas you know so much about the law and refer folks to the justice website methinks you should review the Federal Court Rules particularly Rule 55 and explain to the folks real slow why the "Power That Be" in the Federal Court of Appeal used it in desperation against me and why I hope to put that matter before the Supreme Court someday N'esy Pas?

Rule 55 In special circumstances, in a proceeding, the Court may vary a rule or dispense with compliance with a rule. SOR/2004-283, s. 11



















David Amos
Content disabled 
Judith Keating, Q.C. is Chair of the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal and served in a variety of roles throughout her career, including as Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Legal Advisor to the Premier, New Brunswick’s First Nations Representative, and a provincial chair of the working group on Truth and Reconciliation. She was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick.

Methinks after my running in 7 elections and suing the Queen as well Trudeau's minions should go figure how many times this lawyer and I crossed paths in NB since 2004 Page 1 tells quite a tale all by itself N'esy Pas?

https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right





















 


David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks anyone can Google Judith Keating and David Amos to verify what I am trying to tell is true N'esy Pas?


JOHN R MCTAGGART
Content disabled 
Reply to @David Amos:
Why would I bother?



David Amos
Content disabled 
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Because the "Powers That Be" don't want you to


JOHN R MCTAGGART
Content disabled 
Reply to @David Amos:
Must
Undo
Terrible
Experiences


David Amos
Content disabled 
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Methinks folks should Google your name and mine if they want some comic relief N'esy Pas?














David Amos
What Trudeau The Younger stated about Judith Keating, Q.C. yesterday All of it is true

However methinks he deliberately did not tell the folks about Federal Court File No. T-1557-15 and a lot of other things that Keating no doubt used to secure the fancy appointment N'esy Pas?













Dave Smith
2 more winners in the cash for life dispensation by the PM.


David Allan
Reply to @Dave Smith:
Actually, it's the Constitution that requires it.



Bert Van
Reply to @Dave Smith: Nope , retirement at age 75. And at least these two aren’t party fund raisers.


Donald Mcgregor 
Reply to @David Allan:
The constitution can be amended.



Marcus Aetuis 
Reply to @David Allan:
Constitutions are made to be changed. Only dinosaurs cannot change....

.

Richard Sharp
Reply to @Dave Smith:

INDEPENDENT Senators are a problem with you?



Dave Smith
Reply to @Richard Sharp: Independant? They cannot bite the hand that feeds them, moreover where they not going to be selected from a pool of applicants?


David Amos 
Reply to @Dave Smith: I wholeheartedly agree sir


David Amos
Reply to @Richard Sharp: Methinks everybody and his dog in NB knows that the last thing Judith Keating is Independent Even Trudeau The Younger should have been clever enough to Google her name mine to verify that this very unethical lawyer who does whatever her boss directs and I have battling tooth and nail from 2004 to this very day N'esy Pas?


Tim Hopper:
Reply to @Dave Smith: Agreed, though the Cons support the undemocratic, expensive, and useless senate just as much as the Glibs.


Bort Smith 
Reply to @Richard Sharp:
Independent in name only the government leader in the Senate has supported the Liberals 100 percent of the time. CBC reported on this 2 weeks ago.



David Amos 
Reply to @Dave Smith: This is what Trudeau The Younger stated about Judith Keating, Q.C. yesterday All of it is true

However methinks he deliberately did tell the folks about Federal Court File No. T-1557-15 and a lot of other things that Keating no doubt used to secure the fancy appointment N'esy Pas?

January 31, 2020
Ottawa, Ontario

Judith Keating is a lawyer and accomplished senior public servant, with over 30 years of experience in the Government of New Brunswick.

Ms. Keating served in a variety of roles throughout her career, including as Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Legal Advisor to the Premier, New Brunswick’s First Nations Representative, and a provincial chair of the working group on Truth and Reconciliation. She was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick.

Ms. Keating has worked tirelessly to promote the equal status of the English and French languages in New Brunswick, and devoted herself to ensuring the equal and just treatment of women in the legal profession. In 1993, she became the founder and first president of New Brunswick’s Women in Law.



David Amos 
Reply to @David Amos: More

Ms. Keating is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Bar Association’s Solicitor’s Journal. She is an active member and past chair of the Associations of Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Counsel in Canada, an active member of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative and Parliamentary Counsel, and a member and past president of the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick. She is a past member of the board of Women in Transition and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ), and the past chair of the CIAJ’s Legislative Drafting Conference.

Ms. Keating is Chair of the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal, and a member of the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals’ Committee on Tribunal Excellence in Adjudication.

Ms. Keating received the 2015 Muriel Corkery-Ryan Q.C. Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the legal profession and significant role as a mentor to women.

Ms. Keating holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa, as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Moncton. 
 

Steve Wilson
Reply to @Dave Smith: ... but it was fine when Harper did exactly the same??????


Steve Wilson
Reply to @Dave Smith: .... you mean like Duffy and Pammy et al ...?
 
 
Dave Smith
Reply to @steve wilson: Harpers reformed senate incuded the stooges like Princess Wallin from Saskatchewan, Chicken wing duffy and Patrick the boxing Brazeau, Don Meredith charged sexual crimes, not exactly brilliant choices. Just imagine the entire senate filled with flawed characters like these.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @Dave Smith: Well put sir














Roger Zettler
even the USA has an "elected" vs. an "appointed" senate......then again, JT ran on an election promise of Electoral Reform....we know how that turned out....the same as the "budget will balance itself"


Henry Scott
Reply to @roger zettler: USA has an elected senate..we know how that turned out.  


David Allan
Reply to @roger zettler:
"then again, JT ran on an election promise of Electoral Reform....we know how that turned out"

Yeah, Conservatives killed the bill in committee.
They even turned down the voting method that would have given them the PMO in the last election.
They also turned down the voting method that they use internally.

Do As We Say, Not As We Do!



Denny O'Brien 
Reply to @roger zettler: not last election


Tony Hill 
Reply to @David Allan: "Yeah, Conservatives killed the bill in committee. "

They did absolutely nothing of the sort.

The Conservatives, along with the NDP and Greens, did insist that the Committee could not be a majority Liberal members, but other than that they did nothing more or less than the other Committee members. The Committee members from all 4 parties reviewed the legislation and recommended some form of proportional representation.

The Liberal majority Parliament is who killed this because they had absolutely zero interest in proportional representation. The only system they supported was some form of ranked ballot, so when the Committee didn't provide the system that the Liberals supported they decided not to move ahead with the recommendations from that Committee.


David Amos 
Reply to @roger zettler: Methinks we get the governments we deserve N'esy Pas?


Chari Rama
Reply to @roger zettler: "... the same as the 'budget will balance itself'"

When the economy is thriving and the Government is able to invest in stimulus spending, then the budget will be able to be balanced without the need for austerity measures that cut essential services and reduce the quality of like for most Canadians.

I don't think that is such a far fetched idea especially when compared to the idea of balancing the budget by cutting corporate taxes.



Steve Wilson
Reply to @roger zettler: ... yeah and look at the disaster that senate is, they are about to accuit Trump, a president clearly the most guilty of the three impeached presidents. Sure wish we had an elected senate of soulless hacks ....


Steve Wilson 
Reply to @roger zettler: ... reform? The senate has been reformed,it is far different today under Trudeau than at any point in the last 50 years. Stop spreading nonsense.
 
 
David Amos 
Reply to @steve wilson: Yea Right Methinks you should do the same N'esy Pas?














Lindsay Stephenson
I suppose the senate will no longer be plagued by partisan politics once Trudeau manages to fill the rest of the chamber with libera...sorry, independent Senators. How wonderful will that be?


Bert Van
 Reply to @Lindsay Stephenson: So far they have amended over 40 pieces of legislation under Trudeau. Under Harper they amended one in 9 years.


Paul Castle 
Reply to @Bert van: What gives a Senator the right to undermine any legislation given to them by our duly elected officials, why have elections just let the senate run everything.


Frederick Von Habsburg 
Reply to @paul castle: I dont think you understand the job of the senate at all.


Paul Castle 
Reply to @Frederick Von Habsburg: I understand it completely, and even with understanding it is a complete waste of tax payers dollars. The chamber of sober second thought, really? I do understand under law they have power, what I dislike is they can change legislation that has been made by duly elected officials. I may not be a liberal lover, but I don’t care what party or non party you represent in the senate they are all still a waste of rations.


Glen Parrott
Reply to @Frederick Von Habsburg:
I think Paul understands the "job" of the Senate is to be a rubber stamp when the Harperites are in power and a brick wall when they aren't.

It's not an understanding based on facts...but, like so many other things, Mr. Castle likes a partisan understanding much, much more than a factual one.

Glen Parrott
Formerly known as The Bird



Bert Van 
Reply to @paul castle: You May want to realize all legislation requires senate approval.


Paul Castle 
Reply to @Glen Parrott: Nope disliked the senate when conservatives were in power as well, maybe even more as they earned no money with there rubber stamps. 
 
 
Paul Castle
Reply to @Bert van: Lol I understand civics quite well, I know how our government works quite well. I’m ok with governments not doing everything we want, I get it there are other priorities as well as mine. Senators no matter what anyone says are partisan and owe loyalty to the government under whom they were appointed and the people of Canada have no say in who they are, yet they make decisions that affect us all.


Paul Castle 
Reply to @Jeff Bourns: Wow, I’m pretty sure I understand exactly how the Canadian government works. I just personally dislike that the unelected senate has power.


Bert Van 
Reply to @paul castle: There are two panel members from each province that has a vacancy. They are appointed by the provincial government.


Jeff Bourns 
Reply to @paul castle: Do tell, what power do they hold?


Bert Van
Reply to @paul castle: They actually have little power, they can only recommend amendments to legislation, the house can accept or reject those amendments.


Paul Castle
Reply to @Bert van: They can slow down needed legislation, but mostly they are just a waste of out time and money, and as a country we don’t have a lot of money to waste, and senate salaries and pensions would be a good place to start saving money.


Bert Van 
Reply to @paul castle: A better place to start would be the senate expense rules which are nonexistent as shown in the Duffy trial.


Glen Parrott 
Reply to @paul castle:
Bear with me Paul..I know you responded to my earlier comment...I saw it a few moments ago but the CBC search engine seems to have gone off the rails. I can't get to that comment to respond, so I'm using this one instead.

First off I'll apologize for the snarky tone I got caught up in....labeling you as someone who prefers a partisan mis-understanding to the facts was over aggressive on my part.

That said, when you make wildly false statements (such as - "What gives a Senator the right to undermine any legislation given to them by our duly elected officials" or "why have elections just let the senate run everything.")...you can expect to be labelled as someone who (deliberately or actually) has no clue about the actual authority, purpose and operation of the Senate.

If it is true, that you "understand it (the job of the Senate) very well", then that understanding should have prevented you from making those wildly false statements I cited above.

The short sharp point of my response to you is this...you can't claim to have "thorough knowledge" of a topic after your put up posts which clearly demonstrate a complete lack of any knowledge at all.

Glen Parrott
Formerly known as The Bird



David Amos  
Reply to @Lindsay Stephenson: Methinks many a true word is said in jest N'esy Pas?


David Amos  
Reply to @Bert van: Methinks we all should be embarrassed over the Duffy trial and the fact that he had the nerve to sue us afterwards N'esy Pas? 
 
 
Chari Rama
Reply to @paul castle: "I understand it completely..."

... then you understand that when the Senate amends a piece of legislation the it goes back to to the House of Commons to be voted on by the elected Members of Parliament.



Steve LaFramboise
Reply to @chari rama: yeah, he understands and thinks we’re getting hosed.

Do you think the supposedly sober babysitters are worth the cost to Canadians?



Bort Smith 
Reply to @Bert van:
Most of that was done thanks to the Con senators and former Liberal party senators not these indepdents...



David Amos
Reply to @Bert van: YO Bert don't quit the field In my humble opinion you are winning the battle














Brian Duog
Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics
-you are joking right? you mean this is the party line on appointment, oh wait that mean they are partisan



Jim Miller
Reply to @brian duog:
"Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics"
=
A statement like that strongly supports liberals and fails to provide context.
It reinforces the thought that the see bee see only supports liberal views.



Eugene Peabody 
Reply to @brian duog Anyone who thinks the Harper model years was a better system that worked good needs a better pair of glasses to view the world.
 

Jim Miller 
Reply to @Eugene Peabody:
I agreed with him.
Not because I think Harper was better but because the system is the same now as when H. was there.
 

Denny O'Brien 
Reply to @brian duog: done more than any conservative government


Dave Comeau 
Reply to @brian duog: The two lawyers he just appointed have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments provincially. They are also experienced in ethics issues within government. Neither are members of any political party nor have they worked for a party itself. That is about as non-partizan as it gets.
 

David Amos
Reply to @brian duog: Welcome to the circus













Donald Mcgregor
The us has 100 senators 2 for each state.
Canada has 105 for a country with a tenth of the population.
Talk about a total disregard for the taxpayers of this country.



Graham Greene 
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor:
Go ahead and 'talk about' it if you'd like.

Id personally like the Senate abolished, but no government has ever wanted to wade into that risky endeavour regardless what they thought of it.


Eugene Peabody 
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: I am just happy that we do not model our government system on the very flawed American one.
 

Dave Comeau 
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: And the American model is working so well right now... Give me a break. The two appointees have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments in their home provinces. That is as close to non-partizan as it has gotten in the last decade. Or have you forgotten the lame appointees that Harper put up there.. IE: Brazeau, Duffy, meredith and Lynn Beyack.
 

David Amos
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: Methinks the number of Senators aka evil old political cronies from the Maritimes is particularly disgusting but Duffy took the cake N'esy Pas? 
 

Steve Wilson
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: ... don't like it? Get off the sofa, get elected and make changes, otherwise .......
















Marcus Aetuis
Canadians must be a pretty simple bunch if they actually believe it when Trudeau says his "appointees" will be completely neutral in their work.......


Jack Hill 
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis:
You must be a paranoid to think that they won't.
 

Matty Schultzen 
Reply to @Jack Hill: But when they’re Conservatives Senators what are your thoughts Jack?
Thoughts so...
 

John Chow 
Reply to @Jack Hill:
Is it paranoia? Or an understanding of history, government, and how power is exercised behind closed doors.

What we see on camera is mostly theater.
 

Dave Comeau 
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: Trudeau appointed two senators who are lawyers and have worked on some seriously tough ethics issues provincially. The two appointees have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments in their home provinces. That is as close to non-partizan as it has gotten in the last decade and hopefully a step in the right direction. But if we want to talk about poor choices for the Senate, don't forget the lame appointees that Harper put up there.. IE: Brazeau, Duffy, Don Meredith and Lynn Beyack. All Harper Stooges.
 

David Amos
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: Methinks the educated dudes would like to call it "cognitive dissonance" or whatever but ordinary Maritimers just call it playing dumb because nobody can be that stupid to believe anything any politicians says N'esy Pas?
 

David Amos
Reply to @John Chow: YUP 
 

Steve Wilson
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: ... I love how the right is always insulting Canadian who don't share their views, then demand to be elected ..... hows that working out for you?













Todd Harris
I see the thought police in the Senate are trying suspend Sen. Bayak again. What ever happened to : I may not agree with what you are saying but I will defend to the death your right to say it?


David Semple 
Reply to @Todd Harris: That statement is not universally accepted by political-correct and approved group-think.
 

William James 
Reply to @Todd Harris: Welcome to the age of Political Correctness. Opinions differing from our norm are not welcome here.
 

Bert Van 
Reply to @William James: Touché, they get attacked regularly.
 

John Gray 
Reply to @Todd Harris: When it comes to political leaders, the bar is a bit higher than that, don't you think? Bayak was appointed by Harper to serve Canada, not just shoot off her ignorant mouth.
 

Larry Kostniuk 
Reply to @Todd Harris: it was a lie, for JT to say these senators are impartial
 

Todd Harris 
Reply to @John Gray:
She said that not everything about residential schools was bad. Not exactly treasonous to me. Definitely not politically correct but who cares. There may be some truth to it.
 

Ralph Jacobs 
Reply to @Todd Harris:
You can't have an opinion that differs from the Liberal opinion.
 

Ralph Jacobs
Reply to @Todd Harris:
I did attend a residential school and she is entirely correct. There are many who took education seriously and have done well.
 

Bill Gender 
Reply to @ralph jacobs: SSSSHHHH quiet your not suppose to say that remember ...
 

Wilhelm Mux 
Reply to @Todd Harris:
If I said about you what she says about others I think you would not like it
 

Patrick Anglin 
Reply to @William James: You need to be brighter than her about doing what you think she is trying to do. She becomes the mockery that spoils her message.
 

JOHN R MCTAGGART
Reply to @ralph jacobs:
That's just dumb.
 

David Amos
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: NOPE you are
 

David Amos
Reply to @ralph jacobs: Oh So True















Brian Stewart
Harper saw the Senate for the bloated unelected dinosaur it is and stopped appointing the troughsters. Aladdin has been busy stacking it with liberals er independent liberals, what could go wrong


Rosemary Hughes
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Where were you from 2011 onward. Harper appointed 59 of his friends and fundraisers - including the CFO of the Conservative party fund who ran the fund from his senate office.
 

Rosemary Hughes
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: Ooops 2009!
 

Phil Walters
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: Don't forget he appointed Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau.
 

Henry Scott 
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Who would up vote this?
 

Bert Van 
Reply to @Henry Scott: The uneducated .
 

David Amos
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Methinks if just a few of the Independents sobered up, started acting ethically and speaking up then we would see a true change in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
 

David Amos
Reply to @Phil Walters: Lest we forget















Curtis Green
Read "Independent Senators Group" and "non-affiliated senators" as Liberals. To say they're anything else is like everything Trudeau does, a farce. I mean "While described as "unaffiliated," the three representatives will be crucial to seeing the Liberal government's legislative agenda through the upper house." Believe me, they come when Trudeau whistles.


Anne Lacourt 
Reply to @Curtis Green: Just a reminder that Harper did exactly the same thing..
 

John Watson 
Reply to @Curtis Green:
And yet, there was an article not too long ago that showed the exact opposite. With facts and figures.
 
 
Eric Wilder 
Reply to @Curtis Green: No I do not believe you, evidence is available to the contrary. You just want to rant.
 

Carrie Green 
Reply to @Curtis Green: NO - read man! JT is trying to change the Senate from blatant partisanship into something better - nothing says he has to, and nothing says it will be successful, but as harper learned, you can't just abandon it either. So, sure the 3 that form the leadership are likely libs, but the 2 new Senators seem quite capable and held high positions in their respective provinces thru different parties leadership. Sick and tired of people thinking the whole of government workers has to change every time the leadership does - these are people with not just a job, but a career.
 

Bren Hynes 
Reply to @Anne Lacourt: no...he didnt. He allowed there tone a non binding election for senators and then appointed the victor
 

Graham Greene 
Reply to @Curtis Green:
Indeed.

Why can't the Liberals have a Senator the calibre of . . . say . . . . Lynn Beyak!?
 
 
Patrick Anglin
Reply to @Graham Greene: A Champion of Independent Thought. You have to give her credit for her stubbornness.
 

David Amos
Reply to @Curtis Green: YUP Just like the ones Harper appointed answered to his whistle


David Amos
Reply to @Curtis Green: Remember when the Liberals ordered their Senators to support Harpers bills? Methinks that was a rather telling thing N'esy Pas?















Don Cameron
-"Cotter, another lawyer, is described by the Prime Minister's Office as one of Saskatchewan's "foremost legal ethicists.""-

It would be interesting to hear what Cotter has to say about Trudeau's actions to influence the Justice Minister in regards to SNC.



Bert Van 
Reply to @Don Cameron: it might also be interesting to hear his views on all the opposition to the courts by the Harper government.
 
 
Don Cameron 
Reply to @Bert van:
Only one of these men currently holds the title of PM. One of them had issues with the courts. The other has an issue with ethics.
 
 
Bert Van
Reply to @Don Cameron: Do you know that Harper wrote the ethics rules and was never subjected to them. He was the prorogue king though.
 
 
Dan McIntyre  
Reply to @Bert van: SQUAWK! BLAME HARPER! SQUAWK!
 
 
Bert Van  
Reply to @Dan McIntyre: Who wrote the ethics rules and what year was it? Reading would do you good, after you come down from the ceiling.
 
 
Don Cameron 
Reply to @Bert van:
Someone had to write the ethics rules. With Trudeau's behaviour, I'm glad he did.
If you do a little research, you'll find prorogation has been a commonly used tool in Canada's history. On average, every couple of years since 1867.
 
 
Bert Van  
Reply to @Don Cameron: Trudeau wasn’t even party leader when Harper developed the ethics rules. It’s interesting that he applied such low penalties, $500 if I recall.
 
 
Don Cameron 
Reply to @Bert van:
So? How is that relevant? Most people applauded the creation of a set of ethics rules. Did Trudeau respect them or ignore them? Did he do anything to increase the penalties?
 
 
Bert Van  
Reply to @Don Cameron: Did Harper abide by his own rules, Nope. Appointing fundraisers For his own party to the senate could be considered an ethics violation.
Did we hear anything about that from Del Mastro? Oh wait Harpers Ethics Guy went to jail.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Don Cameron: Methinks I am not alone in wondering if this lawyer knows the former liberal Attorney Generals Irwin Cotler and Jody Wilson Raybould some of the judges they appointed over the years N'esy Pas?


















Robert Uncle
And every one of those appointments are independent senators that will vote exactly as Trudeau tells them to.


Rosemary Hughes 
Reply to @Robert Uncle: And every one of them will still be senators when the government changes hands and the new Conservative PM will still need to get his/her bills passed by the Senate before they become law. Better learn to play in the sandbox.
 
 
Robert Uncle 
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: ..the Senate can only reject a Bill 3 times then it passes into law,. The Senate can not stop legislation just delay it.
 
Rosemary Hughes  
Reply to @Robert Uncle: Wrong. That's the UK system. If the House rejects senate amendments and the senate refuses to accept the rejection, a conference can be called. However, if a bill was part of the platform presented by the party and accepted by the voters by allowing the party to form government, the senate will almost always pass the bill even if amendments aren't accepted because the House reflects the will of the electorate. Mulroney's GST was never in his election platform so the senate was prepared to kill it. Mulroney appointed 5 extra senators (it's allowed under the constitution) to make sure the GST got through. Otherwise it would have been dead.
 
 
David Semple
Reply to @Robert Uncle: Incorrect. Back in 1990 a tie-vote in the Senate effectively kayoed the PC government's a bore shun legislation.
 
 
Ronald McCallum
Reply to @Robert Uncle:
" Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: ..the Senate can only reject a Bill 3 times then it passes into law,. The Senate can not stop legislation just delay it. "

WRONG

"Parliament’s 105 senators shape Canada’s future. Senators scrutinize legislation, suggest improvements and fix mistakes. When the Senate speaks, the House of Commons listens — a bill must pass the Senate before it can become law.

Senators also propose their own bills and generate debate about issues of national importance in the collegial environment of the Senate Chamber, where ideas are debated on their merit."

The Senate MUST approve all ordinary legislation and Section 44 amendments in accordance with the CONSTITUTION ACTS 1867 & 1982:

"55. Where a Bill passed by the Houses of the Parliament is presented to the Governor General for the Queen’s Assent, . . . "

AND the Constitution Act 1982:

"44. Subject to sections 41 and 42, Parliament may exclusively make laws amending the Constitution of Canada in relation to the executive government of Canada or the Senate and House of Commons."

Sources: https://sencanada.ca/en/about/

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/
 
 
Ronald McCallum
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes:
"Mulroney's GST was never in his election platform so the senate was prepared to kill it. Mulroney appointed 5 extra senators (it's allowed under the constitution) to make sure the GST got through. Otherwise it would have been dead."

SLIGHT CORRECTION

Prime Minister had to advise the Governor General to formally recommend to Her Majesty

ELIZABETH The Second, By The Grace Of God of the United Kingdom, CANADA, And Her other Realms and Territories, QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

to invoke the CONSTITUTION ACT 1867, Part IV --- LEGISLATIVE POWER, Section 26:

"Addition of Senators in certain cases

26. If at any Time on the Recommendation of the Governor General the Queen thinks fit to direct that Four or Eight Members be added to the Senate, the Governor General may by Summons to Four or Eight qualified Persons (as the Case may be), representing equally the Four Divisions of Canada, add to the Senate accordingly. (15)"

THEREFORE, eight additional Senators were summoned to the Senate.

Then Section 27 kicks in:

"Reduction of Senate to normal Number

27. In case of such Addition being at any Time made, the Governor General shall not summon any Person to the Senate, except on a further like Direction by the Queen on the like Recommendation, to represent one of the Four Divisions until such Division is represented by Twenty-four Senators and no more. (16)"

Source: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/const/  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Robert Uncle: Bob is my Uncle and he is telling everyone not to believe anything Trudeau The Younger clams 
 

Dave Comeau
Trudeau appointed two senators who are lawyers and have worked on some seriously tough ethics issues provincially. The two appointees have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments in their home provinces. That is as close to non-partizan as it has gotten in the last decade and hopefully a step in the right direction. But if we want to talk about poor choices for the Senate, don't forget the lame appointees that Harper put up there.. IE: Brazeau, Duffy, Don Meredith and Lynn Beyack. All Harper Stooges..


Elsa Hanco
Reply to @Dave Comeau: What Conservative government did Cotter work for?
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Elsa Hanco: Who Cares?


















Ed Betterley
If you thought it was bad before wait until the Liberals dominate it.Hell has no fury like a Liberal scorned.


Denny O'Brien
Reply to @Ed Betterley: tell that to Alberta
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Denny O'Brien: Better yet methinks folks should tell it to the all knowing lawyer from New Brunswick whom Trudeau The Younger just appointed to sit in the Senate N'esy Pas?


















Craig Forbes
https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4162949

There’s nothing independent about these appointments. As reported by the CBC themselves



JOHN R MCTAGGART
Reply to @Craig Forbes:
"But the numbers also show this isn't due to the independent senators named to the Red Chamber by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau."

From the story to which your link points!
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Methinks instead of insulting me you should have done what i suggested and Googled me in order to read Federal Court File NO. T-1557-15 if nothing else N'esy Pas?




















Malcolm Scott
It a bit sad so many Canadians don't understand how their democracy works and the importance of the Senate.
But then, education is not what is was when I was young.....



Rosemary Hughes
Reply to @Malcolm Scott: Ditto.
 
 
Mark Thomas
Reply to @Malcolm Scott: How, exactly, is it important? Presumably it's intended to provide regional representation (as in most federations) and/or to serve as a check on the HoC, but how often has either of these things applied? It's mainly served as a rubber stamp for sitting governments. And in a modern democracy, there's absolutely no excuse for maintaining an unelected legislative body.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: Methinks I should say Ditto too N'esy Pas?











https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-picks-marc-gold-1.5439110

Trudeau appoints constitutional lawyer Marc Gold as government leader in the Senate

 

Gold has voted in lockstep with the Liberal government since his appointment


John Paul Tasker · CBC News · Posted: Jan 24, 2020




Marc Gold (centre) stands with Senators Andre Pratte (left) and Peter Harder before being sworn in during a ceremony in the Senate on Parliament Hill, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 in Ottawa. (Justin Tang/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tapped Quebec Sen. Marc Gold for the position of government representative in the upper house — the top job in the Senate.

Gold will be the government's point-person in an increasingly independent upper house — tasked with ushering government legislation through a fractured chamber that is no longer defined by a Liberal and Conservative duopoly.

Gold, appointed by Trudeau as an Independent senator in 2016, was a well-regarded constitutional lawyer and scholar before he was named to the upper house. Early in his career, he trained federally appointed judges on constitutional law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Gold replaces Ontario Sen. Peter Harder in the top job.

Since his appointment, Gold has voted in lockstep with the Liberal government. A CBC News analysis found his votes in the chamber aligned with the government position 100 per cent of the time. Gold also sponsored key pieces of government legislation, including Bill C-59, a bill that overhauled the national security regime. He served as the Independent Senators Group's (ISG) liaison or whip, the group's vote-counter.

"Sen. Gold's long record of personal and professional achievement, together with his commitment to promoting human rights and Canada's regional diversity, will help us find common ground in the Senate as we invest in and protect our communities, create good middle class jobs and fight climate change," Trudeau said in a statement.

"I look forward to working with him to build a better Canada for all Canadians."
The role of Senate government leader — or, as the Trudeau government has styled the position, "government representative" — is a difficult one.

In years' past, the government leader was selected from the benches of the party in power. The leader could rely on his or her caucus colleagues to pass government legislation in the Senate.

Since the introduction of an independent Senate, passage of government bills has been less certain because the government representative no longer sits as part of the government caucus. Gold will have to negotiate with five separate caucuses and leaders to see that government bills are passed in a timely manner.

In addition to his legislative priorities, Gold will pick up where Harder left off on further reforms to the Senate. Harder had pushed for the creation of a "business committee" to schedule debates on bills and also advocated for an independent, outside audit committee to keep tabs on Senate spending — measures that failed to materialize in the face of opposition from Conservative senators.

About the Author

John Paul Tasker
Parliamentary Bureau
John Paul (J.P.) Tasker is a reporter in the CBC's Parliamentary bureau in Ottawa. He can be reached at john.tasker@cbc.ca.

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