Senate Appointments

[Kip Powick]

OTTAWA – A prominent CTV journalist, a former separatist, several defeated Conservative candidates and other prominent Conservatives – including the party’s chief fundraiser – are among 18 people Prime Minister Stephen Harper named to the Senate today.

Mike Duffy, a long-time Parliament Hill journalist and host of an afternoon television program on politics, was named to the upper chamber as a representative for Prince Edward Island.

He’ll be joined by former colleague Pamela Wallin, a former CTV journalist who went on to serve as Canadian consul general in New York city.

Fabian Manning, defeated in a Newfoundland riding in the recent election, was also named. Also on the list was party fundraiser Irving Gerstein, head of the Conservative Fund, who is credited with filling the Conservatives’ war chest.

Nancy Greene Raine, who won gold and silver medals in alpine skiing at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968 is also a new senator.

The list includes Michel Rivard, a former Parti Québécois MNA, who ran for the federal Canadian Alliance under Stockwell Day and has ties to the ADQ.

Asked about the optics of appointing a separatist to the Senate, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office defended Rivard’s appointment, saying “people are allowed to change their beliefs.”

While Harper has vowed to reform the Senate, he moved today to fill the vacancies ahead of the possible defeat of his government late next month by a Liberal-NDP coalition.

“Our government will continue to push for a more democratic, accountable and effective Senate,” Harper said in a statement that accompanied the list of appointees.

“If Senate vacancies are to be filled, however, they should be filled by the government that Canadians elected rather than by a coalition that no one voted for,” he said.

According to Harper’s office, today’s appointees have all promised to support his plans for Senate reform, including eight-year term limits. But they are not bound to run for election themselves.

“While I look forward to welcoming elected Senators to the Upper Chamber in the future, these current vacancies must be filled in order for the Senate to transact legitimate government business,” Harper said.

The appointments also include:

Nova Scotia: Fred Dickson, a lawyer; Stephen Greene, former chief of staff to the Reform Party leader’s office and a key party fundraiser; Michael MacDonald, a businessman who has also been a strong Harper supporter on the party’s executive.

New Brunswick: Percy Mockler, longest serving member of the provincial legislature and a key Conservative political organizer in that province; John Wallace, lawyer and former Conservative candidate for Saint John in 2006.

Quebec: Patrick Brazeau, a member of the Algonquin Nation and national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, a group that represents urban, off-reserve aboriginals that has been seen as friendly to Harper’s government; 35 years old

Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis, former Progressive Conservative MP; Leo Housakos, a Conservative party organizer and director of VIA Rail; Michel Rivard, former PQ MNA and Conservative organizer.

Ontario: Nicole Eaton, past Conservative party convention chair; Gerstein, chair of the Conservative Fund.

Saskatchewan: Wallin, a former broadcaster named by Jean Chretien to become Canadian consular head in New York, who was appointed by Harper last year to the panel on Afghanistan.

British Columbia: Yonah Martin, an organizer in the Korean-Canadian community and former Conservative candidate in New Westminster-Coquitlam; Richard Neufeld, B.C.’s Energy Minister under Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell.

Yukon: Hector Daniel Lang, former territorial politician and vice chairman of the board of governors for Yukon College.

Housakos is a longtime Tory supporter and party organizer in Quebec and a close personal friend of Harper’s press aide Dimitri Soudas.

The federal ethics commissioner cleared Soudas and Housakos of allegations they had intervened on behalf of a Montreal real estate developer involved in a legal dispute with the Public Works Department.

Housakos had identified the dispute as an irritant for the party’s prospects in Montreal. An investigation by Mary Dawson found he did not directly lobby the PMO.

One senior Conservative said of the Housakos and Rivard appointments that “these are party hacks. Some of these names are going to taint the rest.”

David Christopherson, the New Democrats’ democratic reform critic, slammed Harper’s appointments as "hypocritical and undemocratic."

In a statement released shortly after the names were announced, Christopherson focused on the cost of the new officeholders – $6 million a year – at a time when some Canadians are losing their jobs.

"These 18 patronage appointments show that when it comes to job creation, Mr. Harper cares more about rewarding his Conservative friends than creating jobs for Canadians.”

He cited a letter by constitutional lawyers to the Montreal newspaper La Presse, saying that a "growing body of expert opinion suggests the Prime Minister may be violating the constitution by making these appointments without the confidence of the House of Commons."

Chistopherson also said Harper had promised to reform the Senate by only appointing elected people.

“New Democrats are joining constitutional experts in calling for the Governor General to reject Mr. Harper’s recommendations for appointment to the unelected Senate,” Christopherson said.

The advocacy group Democracy Watch criticized the appointments as a continuation of Harper’s practice of "patronage politics as usual, in violation of his promises not to do so."

[Guest rattler]

The following Bios were provided by the National Post. http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/p...r-notables.aspx

Bios of the new 18 Canadian senators: Journalists, a skier and other notables

Posted: December 22, 2008, 12:11 PM by Kenny Yum

Canadian Politics

Straight from the Prime Minister, the biographies of the 18 senators:

Newfoundland and Labrador

Fabian Manning has dedicated his career to serving Newfoundlanders and Labradorians at all three levels of government.  A three term councilor in the town of St. Brides, Mr. Manning served as coordinator for the Cape Shore Area Development Association for three years.  Mr. Manning would go on to win three elections to the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly as the representative for Placentia – St. Mary’s.  Mr. Manning was subsequently elected as Member of Parliament in the federal constituency of Avalon in the 2006 Federal Election campaign.  Mr. Manning would go on to chair both the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans as well as the Conservative Government’s Atlantic caucus.

Nova Scotia

Fred Dickson, QC is both one of Nova Scotia’s most respected lawyers and one of Canada’s top legal experts on offshore resource development.  Mr. Dickson is counsel with the law firm of McInnes Cooper.  Mr. Dickson has advised the federal and provincial government’s on numerous resource and infrastructure projects, including serving as an advisor to the Government of Nova Scotia during the singing of the 1982 and 1985 Canada / Nova Scotia Offshore Oil and Gas Agreements.  Mr. Dickson remains active in these files as a Director of the Offshore / Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia and Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships.

Stephen Greene has political and policy experience at both the federal and provincial levels.  Mr. Greene served as Chief of Staff in the Leader’s Office of the Reform Party of Canada from 1993 and 1996 during which he helped manage the opposition response to the national unity and fiscal issues of the day.  He went on to work as the Executive Director of the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia.  For the past two years he has served as Principal Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff to Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald with wide responsibilities to help the Premier administer an effective government for all Nova Scotians.

Michael L. MacDonald is a Nova Scotia businessman who since 1988 has been the owner and President of Fleur de Lis Motel Ltd. Mr. MacDonald had previously served terms as executive assistant to two federal cabinet ministers and the premier of Nova Scotia.  A graduate of the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University, Mr. MacDonald has been an activist and volunteer with the federal and provincial Conservative parties since university, and is presently Vice-President of the Conservative Party of Canada and a two-term representative for Nova Scotia on the party’s national executive. A native of Louisbourg, Mr. MacDonald is a long-time resident of Dartmouth where he resides with his wife and two teenaged sons. 

Prince Edward Island

Michael Duffy is one of Canada's most well known and respected news personalities and the current host of CTV's daily program, Mike Duffy Live.  Mr. Duffy joined CBC Radio News in 1974, switched to CBC TV’s “The National” in 1978, and joined CTV in 1988.  He is a member of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.  Mr. Duffy is involved in a number of charitable activities both in Ottawa and in his home province, including the UPEI Building fund, and the current Holland College Foundation Fundraising campaign.  He has been a visiting fellow at Duke University; and has been twice nominated for the “Best in the Business” award by the Washington Journalism Review. Mr. Duffy has received many other awards and citations, and honourary degrees from the University of PEI; from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, NY; and from Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford.

New Brunswick

Percy Mockler has been a long-time MLA in the New Brunswick legislature since he was first elected in 1982. During his time in the provincial legislature, Mr. Mockler served in a number of portfolio's including Minister of Wellness, Culture and Sport, Solicitor General and Minister of Human Resources  Development and Housing. Mr. Mockler is a former advisory member for trade opportunities strategy with the federal Department of External Affairs. He has also been active in community affairs as treasurer of local fish and wildlife associations, a director of the caisse populaire, and as a member and chair of his local school board.

John D. Wallace was born in Rothesay, NB and had a distinguished law career in Saint John.  Most recently, he served for 7 years as Partner/Counsel at the law firm of Stewart McKelvey.  Previously he had been Corporate Counsel for Irving Oil Limited and a Partner at Palmer, O’Connell, Leger, Turnbull and Turnbull.  Mr. Wallace continued his community service after retiring from law.  He is a Member of the University of New Brunswick Board of Governors, the St. John Imperial Theatre Capital Campaign Cabinet and the New Brunswick Symphony Steering Committee. Mr. Wallace was the Telegraph-Journal Male Newsmaker of the Year in 2002 and became a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003.

Quebec

Patrick Brazeau is a member of the Algonquin Nation and a citizen of the Indian reserve of Kitigan Zibi, near Maniwaki, Quebec.  A champion of the rights of Aboriginals, in 2006, he was chosen as the National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples.  He used this forum to promote the economic and social development of Aboriginals, especially those who live off-reserve. Mr. Brazeau has a black belt in karate and was a member of the Naval Reserve on HMCS Carleton, in Ottawa.

Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis was born in Chicoutimi and studied at the École des Beaux-arts de Québec and at Laval University, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and a certificate in college education. She was a teacher at the regional school board Louis-Fréchette. In 1981, she became the first woman to be elected to the Municipal Council of the City of Sainte-Foy. She became active in federal politics and was elected as the MP for the riding of Louis-Hébert from 1984 to 1993. Ms. Fortin-Duplessis has always been involved in the community. During her career, she was a member of the board of the Alzheimer Society and the Fondation de l’Opéra de Québec, and she is a member of the Laval hospital and the Saint-Sacrement hospital foundations. More recently, she was a volunteer for the International Eucharistic Congress.

Leo Housakos was born in Montreal and studied at Cégep Vanier and at McGill University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in arts, with a major in political science and history. In 1993, he co-founded the Montreal Hellenic Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Director of Via Rail Canada.Throughout his business career he has held important management positions in several companies, including Quadvision Consultants and Terrau. Mr. Housakos is married and is the father of two children.

Michel Rivard studied in Quebec City and spent the most part of his professional life in public administration. He was President of the Corporation des maîtres entrepreneurs en réfrigération du Québec, then Mayor of Beauport from 1980 to 1984. Mr. Rivard was director of a number of organizations, and was President of the Executive Committee of the Communauté Urbaine de Québec. In 1994, he was elected at the Assemblée nationale as the MNA for Limoilou. He was Regional Delegate for the region of Quebec and parliamentary Assistant of the Minister responsible for the region of Quebec.

Ontario

Nicole Eaton has devoted much of her life to serving her community in varying degrees through her participation and leadership in a number of charitable organizations, foundations and the arts. Presently she is Director and Vice-Chair of St. Michael's Hospital Foundation, Director and Vice-Chair the National Ballet of Canada and Chair of the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. Previously, Ms Eaton has served in varying capacities on a number of other organizations, including the Royal Ontario Museum, the George R. Gardiner Museum, the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Stratford Festival of Canada. Ms Eaton is also a columnist for the newspaper the National Post and is co-author of two publications.

Irving Gerstein, C.M., O. Ont is a businessman and corporate director.  A Member of both the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario, Mr. Gerstein has been involved in politics for over 40 years, including service as Chair of the Conservative Fund Canada. He is an Honourary Director of Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto), having previously served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman Emeritus, and a director over a period of twenty-five years.  He is a director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and a former Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization.  Mr. Gerstein graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce, University of Pennsylvania, and attended The London School of Economics.

Saskatchewan

Pamela Wallin, O.C., S.O.M is an award winning journalist whose career stretches back more than three decades.  Ms. Wallin is most recognized from her time at CTV where she co-hosted Canada AM and later served as CTV’s Ottawa Bureau chief.  Ms. Wallin would subsequently form her own production company Pamela Wallin Productions Inc.  Ms. Wallin has remained active in public life as Chancellor of the University of Guelph and Senior Advisor on Canada-US relations to the President of the Americas Society and the Council of the Americas.  In 2007, Prime Minister Harper appointed Ms. Wallin to the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan.  Ms. Wallin has agreed to step down as Senator and submit her name as a candidate when Saskatchewan holds its first legislated Senate election.

British Columbia

Nancy Greene Raine, O.C., OBC was Canada’s female athlete of the last century by the Canadian Press and Broadcast News.  She won gold and silver medals in alpine skiing at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968. Her total of 14 World Cup victories (including the Olympics) is still a Canadian record. During her nine-year career Nancy won a total of 17 Canadian Championship titles.  Since retiring from active competition, she has worked to promote the sport and was instrumental in the early development of the Whistler-Blackcomb Resort.  Since 1994 she has been Director of Skiing at Sun Peaks Resort and since 2005 she has been Chancellor of Thompson Rivers University.  Ms. Green Raine is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of both Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Yonah Martin has deep roots in both Korean and Canadian heritage and has spent her life building bridges between different cultural communities in BC.  Born in Seoul, South Korea, before immigrating to Canada 1972, Ms. Martin is the co-founder of the Corean Canadian Coactive (C3) society and has served on the Multicultural Advisory Council of BC, the Vancouver Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, the Kateslem After School Club and the Coquitlam Festival Planners Network.  Ms. Martin has also been active in political life as a candidate in the constituency of New Westminster-Coquitlam.  In 2004 Ms. Martin received ‘Spirit of Community’ award for her service in the Tri-Cities Area. 

Richard Neufeld has spent close to two decades in public service to the people of British Columbia.  First elected to represent the riding of Peace River North in 1991, Mr. Neufeld has been re-elected on three separate occasions.  Since 2001 Mr. Neufeld has served as British Columbia’s Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources.  Mr. Neufeld has also served as the on the council of Fort Nelson, including five years as mayor.  Prior to his involvement in public life, Mr. Neufeld owned and operated his own business.

Yukon

Hector Daniel Lang has made the Yukon his home for more than 50 years.  Born in 1948 in Dawson Creek, BC, he moved with his family to Whitehorse where he completed high school, and later attended the University of Alaska at Fairbanks.  First elected to the Yukon Legislative Assembly in 1974, Mr Lang served 5 consecutive terms, retiring from the legislature in 1992.  Over the course of his 18 years in elected office he was responsible for numerous Ministerial portfolios and later served in the opposition.  Since 1992, Mr. Lang has worked as a Sales Associate in the Yukon Real Estate industry.  Active in community affairs, he is currently the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors for Yukon College. He has four children and three grandchildren, who reside in Whitehorse. Mr Lang presently lives in Whitehorse with his partner Valerie Hodgson, a local artist.

[Don Hudson]

Well, quite frankly, there are a lot of people on that list that I could have voted for, especially considering the quality of some of the appointments of the past. These choices had to be very carefully considered I think - anyone got suggestions for Canadians who might have/should have made the list, and why?

[Guest woxof]

Elizabeth May is the current leader of the Green Party of Canada. She is also an environmentalist, writer, activist and lawyer, and was the executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada from 1989 to 2006. May was born in Hartford, Connecticut to a British father and American mother. May attended the prestigious Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. On May 9, 2006, May entered the Green Party of Canada's leadership race. On August 26, 2006, May won the leadership election on the first ballot.

In 2008 May called Canadians stupid.

Oh wait a minute...the coalition is not in power yet. Miss May may have to wait a while before getting her senate seat. No wonder the opposition is upset again.

[handyman]

anyone got suggestions for Canadians who might have/should have made the list, and why?

Don Cherry...to keep everything interesting and to slam foreigners who hold citizenship in a foreign country and want to govern in this one. .

[Don Hudson]

Joe the Plumber?

Oh, wait...

[FireFox]

Bill Vander Zalm

Seriously thou, a fine choice from B.C would be Mike Harcourt.

And I don't think I've voted NDP in my life.

[zipped]

Yes, some great appointments. Thank you Mr Harper. Now some balance in the Senate, but the Libs still out number the Cons. Mr Harcourt would have been a great choice as well for us B.C.ers.

[mo32a]

There is another 15 seats coming up next year so lets hope the conservatives are still governing to fill those.

Expecting a vitriolic response from Dag.

[CD]

Perhaps when those 15 seats come open next year, the appointments might be chosen solely for their abilities, rather than their political leanings. I see from the list that 4 of Martins appointments do not sit as Liberals (3 Conservatives and 1 Progressive Conservative).

Champagne, Andrée Conservative Québec (Grandville)

Ruth, Nancy Conservative Ontario (Cluny)

Segal, Hugh Conservative Ontario (Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds)

McCoy, Elaine Progressive Conservative Alberta (Alberta)

[moeman]

How about our own Don Hudson?

[Airband]

New senator faces allegations over conduct as chief of aboriginal group

January 7, 2009 - CBC News

An aboriginal leader who was recently appointed to the Senate is facing allegations of inappropriate behaviour toward staff in his organization.

A sexual harassment complaint against Patrick Brazeau, national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, is now before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

Brazeau is also named in an internal grievance filed last year by a different woman who worked at the CAP office in Ottawa.

The allegations became public after Brazeau was appointed to the Senate in December.

In an interview with CBC News, Jade Harper recalled how excited she was when she started working as an events co-ordinator at CAP in 2007.

"I felt like I was able to actually make a difference," said Harper, 25.

That opportunity quickly turned sour, she said.

"Something I noticed in the first couple of weeks was the abuse of alcohol inside and outside of office, where the executive would come back drunk in the afternoons," she said.

She said sexual behaviour in the office was a "common occurrence daily" and alleged her boss played a role.

"I'm sure he'll do great work," Strahl said. "He's a good man."

[tsgas]

Close the Senate down and lower our taxes.