Diverse voices
Room for farmers, fishermen, veterans in the Senate: Downe
P.E.I. Senator Percy Downe would like to see more farmers, fishermen and veterans appointed to the Senate.
“We used to have people with those qualifications in the Senate, but we don’t now,’’ he says.
“It’s important to have a voice from people who have been a farmer or a fisherman or a veteran.’’
Prince Ed- ward Island certainly could offer up its share of such candidates.
Libbe Hubley’s recent retirement from the Senate has opened up a spot for an Islander to serve alongside Downe, Senator Mike Duffy and Senator Diane Griffin, who was appointed in late 2016.
Downe would be fine with farmers, fishermen and veterans filling any number of the eight Senate vacancies available across Canada.
He raised the issue in the Senate Thursday, asking Senator Peter Harder, the government representative in the Senate, if extra consideration by the appointment committee would be given to such Canadians.
“With respect to overall representation in this body, the government is acutely aware of the need to have balanced representation of disciplines, of experience, of gender and of
diversity in its fullest Harder responded.
Harder also noted the federal government is continuing with the “arm’s length independent appointment process’’ for Senate appointments.
Downe supports process.
“I think it’s well,’’ he says.
“I think we’ve had some great appointments. We just need to fill some of these gaps.’’
Downe urges “anyone who is interested’’ to apply to be considered for a Senate appointment.
He is also hopeful a Senate vacancy for P.E.I. will be filled relatively quickly.
“It could be very quick or it could be a few months,’’ he says.
“The current government seems to be filling them quicker than in the past.’’
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