The Senate: a "dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister"

“Despite the fine work of many individual Senators, the Upper House remains a dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister.”
--- Stephen Harper, January 15, 2004

Welcome to the public world, you favoured cronies of the Prime Minister.



Apropos of nothing at all, a short stroll down memory lane. Remember way back when, when it came to appointments, the Prime Minister "had an option. [He] could have said "I'm not going to do it. This is wrong for Canada"?



More strolling:

"In the 21st century, those who want to sit in the parliament of a democratic state should have a mandate from the people."
--- Stephen Harper, February 7, 2006)

"A conservative government will not appoint to the senate anyone who does not have a mandate from the people."
--- Conservative Party website during 2006 election

“As everyone in this room knows, it has become a right of passage for aspiring leaders and prime ministers to promise Senate reform – on their way to the top. .But once they are elected, Senate reform quickly falls to the bottom of the Government’s agenda. Nothing ever gets done.”
--- Stephen Harper, Speech on Senate Reform before Senate Committee, September 7, 2006

“I don’t plan to appoint senators; that’s not my intention.”
--- Stephen Harper, Standard-Freeholder, January 14, 2006

“Stephen Harper will cease patronage appointments to the Senate. Only candidates elected by the people will be named to the Upper House.”
--- Stephen Harper Leadership Website, www.oneconservativevoice.ca, January 15, 2004

“I challenge Mr. Martin, once he becomes Prime Minister, to turn a page on the past, and appoint only elected Senators to the Upper House.”
--- Stephen Harper, Canadian Alliance Press Release, July 4, 2003

“Canadians from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia remain ashamed of Canada`s senior legislative body. They are ashamed the Prime Minister continues the disgraceful, undemocratic appointment of undemocratic Liberals to the undemocratic Senate to pass all too often undemocratic legislation.”
--- Stephen Harper, Hansard, March 7, 1996

“We don’t support any Senate appointments.”
(--- Stephen Harper, Winnipeg Free Press, January 29, 1996

UPDATE: Gerry Nichols' job application:

Despite what I have written or said in the past, I firmly believe Stephen Harper is the greatest, most magnificent, most brilliant Prime Minister in the history of the universe.

And I look forward to one day serving the Great Leader with unthinking, blind obedience and with complete loyalty.

(There, if that doesn't get me a Senate appointment, I don't know what will.)

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