"The government is not going to take any actions going forward that would do anything to further entrench that unelected, unaccountable Senate," Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Friday in announcing that he was placing a formal moratorium on any further appointments to the Senate, which has 22 vacant seats.
Here is some reaction.
---
"If we simply can't come to an agreement on how this thing can be meaningfully reformed, then surely we must be able to decide that in 2015, this country, the modern democracy that it is, ought not to provide decision making authority to an appointed body." -- Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.
---
"I'm prepared to have a conversation about reforming the Senate, but it must be on the condition that any changes follow the spirit of what was intended when the Senate was established by our forefathers, that smaller provinces continue to have the same voice we have now in the upper chamber." -- Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil.
---
"Refusing to name new senators is not a solution to the current situation. To reform our institutions and improve the governance of Canada, we need dialogue that includes the provinces and Canada." -- Quebec Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Jean-Marc Fournier.
---
"Today's announcement distracts from the urgent priorities facing Canadians, like infrastructure investments and retirement security." -- Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
---
"Manitoba has had a long standing position on the abolition of the senate, we welcome the opportunity to work with our provincial counterparts and the federal government at anytime to abolish the Senate." Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger.
