Reforming the Senate

Bravo to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s move to eject Liberal senators from his party’s caucus, and discontinue its association with 32 Liberal-appointed senators.

In my opinion, this major reform has been long overdue, is much required and critically important to give new life to the moribund Senate, which has largely been an old-boys’ club and waste of money.

As he would not like to be tainted by any of his former Senate colleagues’ transgressions or misdoings, should any of them get embroiled in any scandal as a result of the upcoming auditor-general’s report on Senate expenses, Trudeau has risen above the fray and given a clear roadmap for the Senate to play an independent, conscientious role in the 21st century.

More important, his move pre-empts any motion by the New Democratic Party to start a constitutional battle over the Senate.

It is no surprise that the ruling Conservative Party was caught shellshocked. The air in its “elected-Senate” balloon has been punctured by this audacious move by Trudeau.

It is to be hoped that a newly reformed Senate would have some teeth and be able to play its constitutional role by becoming a voice for 32 million Canadians — not just the voice of their narrow-minded masters in their respective political parties.

Zaheer Khan Dollard-des-Ormeaux

Unilaterally stripping Liberal sen- ators of their political affiliation without notice, all in the name of enhancing one of our democratic institutions, is a bit of a stretch. Democracy means consulting those who are affected.

Oh, this may play well for a few days, but it’s hare-brained, or, in Justin Trudeau’s case, hair-brained. When the dust settles on this announcement, Trudeau should explain to Canadians how you stop the other team from scoring goals after you’ve removed your players from the field. Howard M. Greenfield

Montreal

Much has been made by the media of Justin Trudeau’s liberation of his senators to sit as independents.

It can be likened to a parent who attempts to disown his errant children, while in essence, they are still his children.

These Liberal senators have said as much, in stating that it won’t change their Liberal political status even though they don’t be in the Liberal caucus.

The ideal is to have an elected Senate instead of an appointed one, and until the Supreme Court of Canada rules on the procedures allowing for a constitutional amendment, there is little that can be done. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has already initiated this process and anything else, like this Liberal ploy, would only preserve the status quo.

Patrick Rosati Town of Mount Royal

The Canadian Senate should not be reformed; it should be, once and for all, abolished.

The money saved could be given to food banks, hospitals, reputable charities and individual Canadians who are in dire straits. Robert O’Brien

Montreal