The New Canadian Government Is Shaking Up The Way Senators Are Appointed

The government is creating a new independent advisory board to pick senators.

The Liberals have unveiled their plan to reform the Senate. Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef said they'll create an independent board to find "amazing Canadians of great merit" to recommend to the prime minister.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The prime minister will then pick new independent senators from the board's shortlist.

For the past century and a half, prime ministers had free reign to appoint whoever they wanted to the Senate (though technically they just "recommend" who to appoint and the governor general makes the actual appointment).

This led to a long history of failed candidates, party bagmen and longtime partisans being appointed to the Senate.

Most recently, many called for Senate reform — and even abolition — after the expense scandal.

The new advisory board will recommend five names for each Senate seat that needs to be filled. The shortlist will not be publicized, but the prime minister will have to choose from one of those five names.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS

The five-member advisory board will be made up of three people from the federal level and two people from the provincial level.

Monsef, who was joined Thursday by Dominic LeBlanc, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, said the board will be in charge of recruiting "community leaders with integrity" to the Senate.

The Liberals say that one of the best parts of this plan is that it's actually doable. Another route suggested by some recently — electing senators — would require amending the constitution with the consent of the provinces, according to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Liberals also turfed Conservative Senate Speaker Leo Housakos and replaced him with George Furey, a Senate Liberal appointed by Jean Chrétien.

Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Shortly before the Liberals made the announcement, Housakos released an "open letter" in which he defended the previous appointment process.

"What some consider most controversial about the Senate is that its members are appointed. Yet, ironically, this is precisely why senators do a great deal of good work," the letter reads. "We don't always get bogged down by the partisan soundbites often heard from the House of Commons where members are seeking public attention to ensure re-election."

Conservative Senator Jacques Demers also announced on Thursday that he was quitting the Tory caucus. He didn't say why. Last month, John Wallace, another Conservative senator, announced he was quitting caucus due to "irreconcilable differences.”

There are 22 open seats in the Senate right now. The Liberals say they'll start by appointing five independent senators in early 2016 to "immediately reduce partisanship in the Senate and improve the representation of the provinces with the most vacancies (i.e., Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec)."

Then, they'll set up a permanent process through which people can apply to become senators. Applicants will have to meet this criteria.