Senate Appointments
No real surprises other than Doug Finley not being on the list. The process was a little low key here in Manitoba with no opening to fill.
Look for the Manitoba seats in the Senate to become a bigger local story in six months when former PC/current Indie Senator Mira Spivak retires in July. After her, it's a long wait until Senator Terry Stratton's retirement in March 2013. Hey, that means there could be a Senator election with Manitoba's October 2011 election at no real extra cost to the taxpayers, right? And with three vacancies coming up in 2017, how could we not tag Senate elections to the 2015 general provincial election. Otherwise a single Prime Minister will decide 50% of Manitoba's Senate seats for a generation in one fell swoop and does that make any sense to anyone?
(The early betting is that the 2009 seat will come down to one of five people in order of likelihood: 1) CPC President Don Plett, a big step down to 2) former Premier Gary Filmon, another big step down to 3) MP Joy Smith, 4) former provincial cabinet minister Jim Downey & 5) MP Merv Tweed. Personally, I'll be surprised if it's anyone but Plett.)
Back to today's list, Duffy is a gimmick (at least Pamela Wallin has stints at the consulate in New York and on the Manley committee that decided our Afghan policy), no surprise on Irving Gersetein or Fabian Manning, and at first blush, Chief Patrick Brazeau is the one that excites me the most with potential.
Update: Less pleased that Chief Brazeau is only 34. That's way too young for a Senate appointment, however I'm betting that the Prime Minister is betting that term limits are going to arrive far quicker than the Chief's 75th birthday.
(The early betting is that the 2009 seat will come down to one of five people in order of likelihood: 1) CPC President Don Plett, a big step down to 2) former Premier Gary Filmon, another big step down to 3) MP Joy Smith, 4) former provincial cabinet minister Jim Downey & 5) MP Merv Tweed. Personally, I'll be surprised if it's anyone but Plett.)
Back to today's list, Duffy is a gimmick (at least Pamela Wallin has stints at the consulate in New York and on the Manley committee that decided our Afghan policy), no surprise on Irving Gersetein or Fabian Manning, and at first blush, Chief Patrick Brazeau is the one that excites me the most with potential.
Update: Less pleased that Chief Brazeau is only 34. That's way too young for a Senate appointment, however I'm betting that the Prime Minister is betting that term limits are going to arrive far quicker than the Chief's 75th birthday.
That 09 vacancy might just be Dr. Jon Gerrard, or Terry Duguid or Ray Simard more likely than Plett if we have a spring or fall election and the Liberals can make Harper eat this economic depression.
Tory Times are Tough Times.
Posted by
Local Grit |
1:34 PM
Keep trying with that slogan LG. Fact is, there aren't 60 potential pick up seats for the Liberals at the moment, which means 2009 election or not, Manitoba's next senator is going to be a Tory.
Posted by
The Hack |
10:30 PM
I agree that right now there are not a clear 60 pick ups. But with the economic forecast looking to only get worse over the next couple months, combined with Harper's horrible handling of it since October (in both optics and actual policy) and the fact that it doesn't matter if Harper and the Tories had anything to do with the coming Depression (!), the government in power when it happens always eats it. This combined with a Liberal Party that for the first time since the late 90's feels united and has a goal in mind greater than internal leadership fun, I think the mantra of Tory Times are Tough Times can be made to stick and by late spring or early fall of 09, that 60-75 pick ups may become more realistic.
Posted by
Local Grit |
9:45 AM
Interesting that you're a fan of Mr. Brazeau - I certainly don't know any Aboriginal people who are.
Posted by
D |
5:21 PM
D - That probably means he's exactly the type of guy needed to break the insane status quo of current aboriginal politics. The current "popular" leadership hasn't really been getting it done, have they?
That said, I'm all ears: What are the criticisms of the guy?
Posted by
The Hack |
4:12 PM