The seat count for independent senators continues to grow, with the Honourable Senator Diane Bellemare (Alma, Québec), and the Honourable Senator Michel Rivard (The Laurentides, Québec) stepping out of the Conservative Party caucus earlier this week.
There are now thirteen independent senators in the Senate, and six of these senators have decided to team up to form a non-partisan working group. That working group is seeking to give independent senators a greater voice in the Upper House — while the working group has no official status under existing Senate rules, which the senators describe in a statement as "archaic."
These newest independent senators are taking up a less partisan role just as the independent advisory board on Senate appointments is about to offer advice to the prime minister on nominations to fill the first five of the 24 vacancies that have built up in the Red Chamber. The appointment of several Ontario, Québec, and Manitoba senators is expected in a few days.
Senator Bellemare quits Tory caucus to support Liberal push for non-partisanship
On March 8, Senator Bellemare announced in the Senate chamber that she would be leaving the Conservative Party caucus to sit with the independent benches. Senator Bellemare advised her colleagues that she supported the work of the Government to make the Senate less partisan, and that she feels that she can better support to the Senate's legislative role as an independent.
Senator Bellemare was appointed by the governor general on September 6, 2012, on the advice of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. (Calgary Heritage), then the prime minister, to represent the senatorial district of Alma in Québec. She brings over two decades of experiencing teaching at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and several years of experience as the chief executive officer of the Société québécoise de développement de la main d'oeuvre.
After being 'sidelined' in election, Senator Rivard quits Tory caucus
About an hour after Senator Bellemare's resignation from the Conservative Party caucus, Senator Rivard followed. Senator Rivard indicated that his resignation from the party caucus was fueled by the Conservatives' decision to shun him, and several other Conservative senators, from supporting the party's electoral machine in Québec during the recent general election.
Senator Rivard was appointed on January 2, 2009, on the advice of Mr. Harper as prime minister, to represent the senatorial district of The Laurentides, Québec. Before his appointment to the Upper House, Senator Rivard was a known Québec sovereigntist, having served in the Québec national assembly under the banner of the Parti québécois, after decades of business experience.
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There are now thirteen independent senators in the Senate, and six of these senators have decided to team up to form a non-partisan working group. That working group is seeking to give independent senators a greater voice in the Upper House — while the working group has no official status under existing Senate rules, which the senators describe in a statement as "archaic."
These newest independent senators are taking up a less partisan role just as the independent advisory board on Senate appointments is about to offer advice to the prime minister on nominations to fill the first five of the 24 vacancies that have built up in the Red Chamber. The appointment of several Ontario, Québec, and Manitoba senators is expected in a few days.
Senator Bellemare quits Tory caucus to support Liberal push for non-partisanship
On March 8, Senator Bellemare announced in the Senate chamber that she would be leaving the Conservative Party caucus to sit with the independent benches. Senator Bellemare advised her colleagues that she supported the work of the Government to make the Senate less partisan, and that she feels that she can better support to the Senate's legislative role as an independent.
Senator Bellemare was appointed by the governor general on September 6, 2012, on the advice of the Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P. (Calgary Heritage), then the prime minister, to represent the senatorial district of Alma in Québec. She brings over two decades of experiencing teaching at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and several years of experience as the chief executive officer of the Société québécoise de développement de la main d'oeuvre.
After being 'sidelined' in election, Senator Rivard quits Tory caucus
About an hour after Senator Bellemare's resignation from the Conservative Party caucus, Senator Rivard followed. Senator Rivard indicated that his resignation from the party caucus was fueled by the Conservatives' decision to shun him, and several other Conservative senators, from supporting the party's electoral machine in Québec during the recent general election.
Senator Rivard was appointed on January 2, 2009, on the advice of Mr. Harper as prime minister, to represent the senatorial district of The Laurentides, Québec. Before his appointment to the Upper House, Senator Rivard was a known Québec sovereigntist, having served in the Québec national assembly under the banner of the Parti québécois, after decades of business experience.
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