David Raymond Amos@DavidRayAmos Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others Methinks everybody in NB knows the last thing Judith Keating is Independent. Even Trudeau The Younger can Google her name & mine to verify that this very mindless unethical lawyer &am I have battling tooth and nail since 2004 N'esy Pas?
Judith Keating (left) will represent New Brunswick. William Brent Cotter (right) will fill one of the Saskatchewan seats. (Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal/University of Saskatchewan)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has named two new senators to the upper house — senior provincial public servants with experience working on Indigenous files.
Trudeau has now appointed 52 senators since taking office in 2015 — an unusually large number in such a short period of time. Former prime minister Stephen Harper let vacancies in the place pile up as the 2013-15 expenses scandal raged on.
Judith Keating will represent New Brunswick. William Brent Cotter will fill one of the Saskatchewan seats. The Senate is now closer to gender parity, with 48 women and 52 men in the chamber (five seats remain vacant).
Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics — part of a push to reconstitute the chamber as a body composed largely of Independent senators.
Like the 50 senators Trudeau appointed before today, the two new picks are expected to sit as members of the Independent Senators Group or as non-affiliated senators. There are now five different caucuses and groups in the Senate — and the Liberal/Conservative duopoly that once defined the chamber is defunct.
Keating is a leading legal and constitutional expert and was the first woman to serve as deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of New Brunswick. (A deputy minister is the top bureaucrat in a government department.)
She worked as a chief legal adviser to both Progressive Conservative and Liberal premiers. She chaired the province's working group on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
A pioneering woman in the legal field, Keating was the founder and first president of New Brunswick's Women in Law and editor-in-chief of the Solicitor's Journal of the Canadian Bar Association. Keating is an expert in administrative law, constitutional law and legislative interpretation.
Cotter, another lawyer, is described by the Prime Minister's Office as one of Saskatchewan's "foremost legal ethicists."
Like Keating, Cotter served as his province's deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general. He currently chairs the Government of Saskatchewan's Public Complaints Commission, a governmental body that hears complaints about alleged municipal police misconduct.
Cotter is also a member of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada Advisory Committee on Implementation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.
"Judith Keating and W. Brent Cotter have led exceptional careers in service of their provinces. Their dedication to Canada's regional, cultural and linguistic diversity will make them important voices for their communities, and help the Senate better serve all Canadians," Trudeau said in a statement.
Keating and Cotter applied to be senators. Under reforms introduced by the Trudeau government, an independent appointments board compiles a list of eligible people to help the prime minister make his picks for the appointed chamber.
These appointments come on the same day Marc Gold, Trudeau's representative in the Senate, tapped two former Independent senators to sit as members of government caucus.
Manitoba Sen. Raymonde Gagné will be the deputy government representative or "legislative deputy," the second in command. Alberta Sen. Patti LaBoucane-Benson, a Métis, will be the government's liaison or whip — the person tasked with counting votes to make sure a government bill will pass through the Senate.
LaBoucane-Benson is the first Indigenous woman to hold a leadership position of this sort in the Red Chamber.
While described as "unaffiliated," the three representatives will be crucial to seeing the Liberal government's legislative agenda through the upper house.
Unlike the situation in years past, the government leader doesn't have a caucus of senators to rely on to see that government bills are passed. The new contingent of Independent senators also has been much more willing to amend bills, which has slowed down the pace of the legislative process.
David Amos Methinks anyone can Google Judith Keating and David Amos to verify what I am trying to tell is true N'esy Pas?
David Amos Content disabled Judith Keating, Q.C. is Chair of the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal and served in a variety of roles throughout her career, including as Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Legal Advisor to the Premier, New Brunswick’s First Nations Representative, and a provincial chair of the working group on Truth and Reconciliation. She was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick.
Methinks after my running in 7 elections and suing the Queen as well Trudeau's minions should go figure how many times this lawyer and I crossed paths in NB since 2004 Page 1 tells quite a tale all by itself N'esy Pas?
Methinks anyone can Google Judith Keating and David Amos to verify what I am trying to tell is true N'esy Pas?
JOHN R MCTAGGART Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Why would I bother?
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Because the "Powers That Be" don't want you to
JOHN R MCTAGGART
Content disabled Reply to @David Amos: Must Undo Terrible Experiences
David Amos
Content disabled Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Methinks folks should Google your name and mine if they want some comic relief N'esy Pas?
David Amos What Trudeau The Younger stated about Judith Keating, Q.C. yesterday All of it is true
However methinks he deliberately did not tell the folks about Federal Court File No. T-1557-15 and a lot of other things that Keating no doubt used to secure the fancy appointment N'esy Pas?
David Amos Pease Enjoy a little Deja Vu when a liberal leader defended Alberta' standing in the Senate
CBC News · Posted: Dec 13, 2006 10:10 AM ET
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced a Senate reform bill Wednesday that gives Canadians a say about who represents them.
The bill, which falls short of allowing full Senate elections calls for voters to choose preferred candidates to represent their provinces and territories.
The prime minister would make the final decision, based on voters' choices.
"This bill will allow us to move to a new era in Canadian democracy," Harper told his cheering caucus at a meeting Wednesday morning in Ottawa.
"Imagine that after a century and a half, democracy will finally come to the Senate of Canada."
Under the current system, the prime minister selects senators without having to seek any public input."
"Dion calls bill "completely irresponsible"
Dion said changes to the Senate should address more pressing concerns.
He said the current system doesn't make sense because a province like Nova Scotia is represented by 10 senators, while a province like Alberta, with about five times the population, only has six senators.
"I think what the prime minister wants to do is completely, completely irresponsible," Dion said in French, speaking to reporters a few hours after Harper's caucus meeting.
"We would be electing senators with the current distribution and the current distribution does penalize provinces, particularly the western provinces."
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Six years later Dion was still beating on that drum
CBC News · Posted: Jun 04, 2012 4:19 PM AT
Former federal Liberal leader Stéphane Dion is arguing that Premier David Alward's plan for Senate elections could provoke a constitutional crisis.
Dion said Alward's Senate election bill, which was unveiled last week, could ignite a constitutional debate over the amount of influence provinces have in the House of Commons and Senate.
New Brunswick has 10 senators, which is a disproportionately high number compared to its small population.
Dion, who is still a Liberal MP, said larger provinces will not be happy about that once Senate elections start.
"Alberta and British Columbia have only six senators out of 105. The very moment this Senate will be elected and powerful, they will be out of their mind. They will say, ‘It doesn't make sense,’" he said.
Dion said larger provinces will demand more Senate seats to reflect their bigger population and since that requires changing the Constitution, he said Canada will have a full-blown constitutional showdown on its hands.
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Five more years later he was still beating on that drum
CBC Posted: Apr 25, 2014 6:23 PM ET Stéphane Dion on Supreme Court's Senate reform decision
Dave Smith 2 more winners in the cash for life dispensation by the PM.
David Allan
Reply to @Dave Smith: Actually, it's the Constitution that requires it.
Bert Van
Reply to @Dave Smith: Nope , retirement at age 75. And at least these two aren’t party fund raisers.
Donald Mcgregor
Reply to @David Allan: The constitution can be amended.
Marcus Aetuis
Reply to @David Allan: Constitutions are made to be changed. Only dinosaurs cannot change.... .
Richard Sharp
Reply to @Dave Smith:
INDEPENDENT Senators are a problem with you?
Dave Smith
Reply to @Richard Sharp: Independant? They cannot bite the hand that feeds them, moreover where they not going to be selected from a pool of applicants?
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Smith: I wholeheartedly agree sir
David Amos
Reply to @Richard Sharp: Methinks everybody and his dog in NB knows that the last thing Judith Keating is Independent Even Trudeau The Younger should have been clever enough to Google her name mine to verify that this very unethical lawyer who does whatever her boss directs and I have battling tooth and nail from 2004 to this very day N'esy Pas?
Tim Hopper: Reply to @Dave Smith: Agreed, though the Cons support the undemocratic, expensive, and useless senate just as much as the Glibs.
Bort Smith
Reply to @Richard Sharp: Independent in name only the government leader in the Senate has supported the Liberals 100 percent of the time. CBC reported on this 2 weeks ago.
David Amos
Reply to @Dave Smith: This is what Trudeau The Younger stated about Judith Keating, Q.C. yesterday All of it is true
However methinks he deliberately did tell the folks about Federal Court File No. T-1557-15 and a lot of other things that Keating no doubt used to secure the fancy appointment N'esy Pas?
January 31, 2020 Ottawa, Ontario
Judith Keating is a lawyer and accomplished senior public servant, with over 30 years of experience in the Government of New Brunswick.
Ms. Keating served in a variety of roles throughout her career, including as Chief Legislative Counsel, Chief Legal Advisor to the Premier, New Brunswick’s First Nations Representative, and a provincial chair of the working group on Truth and Reconciliation. She was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick.
Ms. Keating has worked tirelessly to promote the equal status of the English and French languages in New Brunswick, and devoted herself to ensuring the equal and just treatment of women in the legal profession. In 1993, she became the founder and first president of New Brunswick’s Women in Law.
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: More
Ms. Keating is the Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Bar Association’s Solicitor’s Journal. She is an active member and past chair of the Associations of Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Counsel in Canada, an active member of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative and Parliamentary Counsel, and a member and past president of the Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick. She is a past member of the board of Women in Transition and the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ), and the past chair of the CIAJ’s Legislative Drafting Conference.
Ms. Keating is Chair of the New Brunswick Financial and Consumer Services Tribunal, and a member of the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals’ Committee on Tribunal Excellence in Adjudication.
Ms. Keating received the 2015 Muriel Corkery-Ryan Q.C. Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the legal profession and significant role as a mentor to women.
Ms. Keating holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ottawa, as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Moncton.
Roger Zettler even the USA has an "elected" vs. an "appointed" senate......then again, JT ran on an election promise of Electoral Reform....we know how that turned out....the same as the "budget will balance itself"
Henry Scott Reply to @roger zettler: USA has an elected senate..we know how that turned out.
David Allan Reply to @roger zettler: "then again, JT ran on an election promise of Electoral Reform....we know how that turned out"
Yeah, Conservatives killed the bill in committee. They even turned down the voting method that would have given them the PMO in the last election. They also turned down the voting method that they use internally.
Do As We Say, Not As We Do!
Denny O'Brien
Reply to @roger zettler: not last election
Tony Hill
Reply to @David Allan: "Yeah, Conservatives killed the bill in committee. "
They did absolutely nothing of the sort.
The Conservatives, along with the NDP and Greens, did insist that the Committee could not be a majority Liberal members, but other than that they did nothing more or less than the other Committee members. The Committee members from all 4 parties reviewed the legislation and recommended some form of proportional representation.
The Liberal majority Parliament is who killed this because they had absolutely zero interest in proportional representation. The only system they supported was some form of ranked ballot, so when the Committee didn't provide the system that the Liberals supported they decided not to move ahead with the recommendations from that Committee.
David Amos
Reply to @roger zettler: Methinks we get the governments we deserve N'esy Pas?
Chari Rama Reply to @roger zettler: "... the same as the 'budget will balance itself'"
When the economy is thriving and the Government is able to invest in stimulus spending, then the budget will be able to be balanced without the need for austerity measures that cut essential services and reduce the quality of like for most Canadians.
I don't think that is such a far fetched idea especially when compared to the idea of balancing the budget by cutting corporate taxes.
Lindsay Stephenson I suppose the senate will no longer be plagued by partisan politics once Trudeau manages to fill the rest of the chamber with libera...sorry, independent Senators. How wonderful will that be?
Bert Van Reply to @Lindsay Stephenson: So far they have amended over 40 pieces of legislation under Trudeau. Under Harper they amended one in 9 years.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Bert van: What gives a Senator the right to undermine any legislation given to them by our duly elected officials, why have elections just let the senate run everything.
Frederick Von Habsburg
Reply to @paul castle: I dont think you understand the job of the senate at all.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Frederick Von Habsburg: I understand it completely, and even with understanding it is a complete waste of tax payers dollars. The chamber of sober second thought, really? I do understand under law they have power, what I dislike is they can change legislation that has been made by duly elected officials. I may not be a liberal lover, but I don’t care what party or non party you represent in the senate they are all still a waste of rations.
Glen Parrott
Reply to @Frederick Von Habsburg: I think Paul understands the "job" of the Senate is to be a rubber stamp when the Harperites are in power and a brick wall when they aren't.
It's not an understanding based on facts...but, like so many other things, Mr. Castle likes a partisan understanding much, much more than a factual one.
Glen Parrott Formerly known as The Bird
Bert Van
Reply to @paul castle: You May want to realize all legislation requires senate approval.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Glen Parrott: Nope disliked the senate when conservatives were in power as well, maybe even more as they earned no money with there rubber stamps.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Bert van: Lol I understand civics quite well, I know how our government works quite well. I’m ok with governments not doing everything we want, I get it there are other priorities as well as mine. Senators no matter what anyone says are partisan and owe loyalty to the government under whom they were appointed and the people of Canada have no say in who they are, yet they make decisions that affect us all.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Jeff Bourns: Wow, I’m pretty sure I understand exactly how the Canadian government works. I just personally dislike that the unelected senate has power.
Bert Van
Reply to @paul castle: There are two panel members from each province that has a vacancy. They are appointed by the provincial government.
Jeff Bourns
Reply to @paul castle: Do tell, what power do they hold?
Bert Van
Reply to @paul castle: They actually have little power, they can only recommend amendments to legislation, the house can accept or reject those amendments.
Paul Castle
Reply to @Bert van: They can slow down needed legislation, but mostly they are just a waste of out time and money, and as a country we don’t have a lot of money to waste, and senate salaries and pensions would be a good place to start saving money.
Bert Van
Reply to @paul castle: A better place to start would be the senate expense rules which are nonexistent as shown in the Duffy trial.
Glen Parrott
Reply to @paul castle: Bear with me Paul..I know you responded to my earlier comment...I saw it a few moments ago but the CBC search engine seems to have gone off the rails. I can't get to that comment to respond, so I'm using this one instead.
First off I'll apologize for the snarky tone I got caught up in....labeling you as someone who prefers a partisan mis-understanding to the facts was over aggressive on my part.
That said, when you make wildly false statements (such as - "What gives a Senator the right to undermine any legislation given to them by our duly elected officials" or "why have elections just let the senate run everything.")...you can expect to be labelled as someone who (deliberately or actually) has no clue about the actual authority, purpose and operation of the Senate.
If it is true, that you "understand it (the job of the Senate) very well", then that understanding should have prevented you from making those wildly false statements I cited above.
The short sharp point of my response to you is this...you can't claim to have "thorough knowledge" of a topic after your put up posts which clearly demonstrate a complete lack of any knowledge at all.
Glen Parrott Formerly known as The Bird
David Amos
Reply to @Lindsay Stephenson: Methinks many a true word is said in jest N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Bert van: Methinks we all should be embarrassed over the Duffy trial and the fact that he had the nerve to sue us afterwards N'esy Pas?
Chari Rama Reply to @paul castle: "I understand it completely..."
... then you understand that when the Senate amends a piece of legislation the it goes back to to the House of Commons to be voted on by the elected Members of Parliament.
Steve LaFramboise Reply to @chari rama: yeah, he understands and thinks we’re getting hosed.
Do you think the supposedly sober babysitters are worth the cost to Canadians?
Bort Smith
Reply to @Bert van: Most of that was done thanks to the Con senators and former Liberal party senators not these indepdents...
David Amos
Reply to @Bert van: YO Bert don't quit the field In my humble opinion you are winning the battle
Brian Duog Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics -you are joking right? you mean this is the party line on appointment, oh wait that mean they are partisan
Jim Miller Reply to @brian duog: "Trudeau has moved to rid the Senate of partisan politics" = A statement like that strongly supports liberals and fails to provide context. It reinforces the thought that the see bee see only supports liberal views.
Eugene Peabody
Reply to @brian duog Anyone who thinks the Harper model years was a better system that worked good needs a better pair of glasses to view the world.
Jim Miller
Reply to @Eugene Peabody: I agreed with him. Not because I think Harper was better but because the system is the same now as when H. was there.
Denny O'Brien
Reply to @brian duog: done more than any conservative government
Dave Comeau
Reply to @brian duog: The two lawyers he just appointed have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments provincially. They are also experienced in ethics issues within government. Neither are members of any political party nor have they worked for a party itself. That is about as non-partizan as it gets.
David Amos
Reply to @brian duog: Welcome to the circus
Donald Mcgregor The us has 100 senators 2 for each state. Canada has 105 for a country with a tenth of the population. Talk about a total disregard for the taxpayers of this country.
Graham Greene
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: Go ahead and 'talk about' it if you'd like.
Id personally like the Senate abolished, but no government has ever wanted to wade into that risky endeavour regardless what they thought of it.
Eugene Peabody
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: I am just happy that we do not model our government system on the very flawed American one.
Dave Comeau
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: And the American model is working so well right now... Give me a break. The two appointees have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments in their home provinces. That is as close to non-partizan as it has gotten in the last decade. Or have you forgotten the lame appointees that Harper put up there.. IE: Brazeau, Duffy, meredith and Lynn Beyack.
David Amos
Reply to @Donald Mcgregor: Methinks the number of Senators aka evil old political cronies from the Maritimes is particularly disgusting but Duffy took the cake N'esy Pas?
Marcus Aetuis Canadians must be a pretty simple bunch if they actually believe it when Trudeau says his "appointees" will be completely neutral in their work.......
Jack Hill
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: You must be a paranoid to think that they won't.
Matty Schultzen
Reply to @Jack Hill: But when they’re Conservatives Senators what are your thoughts Jack? Thoughts so...
John Chow
Reply to @Jack Hill: Is it paranoia? Or an understanding of history, government, and how power is exercised behind closed doors.
What we see on camera is mostly theater.
Dave Comeau
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: Trudeau appointed two senators who are lawyers and have worked on some seriously tough ethics issues provincially. The two appointees have worked for both Liberal and Conservative governments in their home provinces. That is as close to non-partizan as it has gotten in the last decade and hopefully a step in the right direction. But if we want to talk about poor choices for the Senate, don't forget the lame appointees that Harper put up there.. IE: Brazeau, Duffy, Don Meredith and Lynn Beyack. All Harper Stooges.
David Amos
Reply to @Marcus Aetuis: Methinks the educated dudes would like to call it "cognitive dissonance" or whatever but ordinary Maritimers just call it playing dumb because nobody can be that stupid to believe anything any politicians says N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @John Chow: YUP
Todd Harris I see the thought police in the Senate are trying suspend Sen. Bayak again. What ever happened to : I may not agree with what you are saying but I will defend to the death your right to say it?
David Semple
Reply to @Todd Harris: That statement is not universally accepted by political-correct and approved group-think.
William James
Reply to @Todd Harris: Welcome to the age of Political Correctness. Opinions differing from our norm are not welcome here.
Bert Van
Reply to @William James: Touché, they get attacked regularly.
John Gray
Reply to @Todd Harris: When it comes to political leaders, the bar is a bit higher than that, don't you think? Bayak was appointed by Harper to serve Canada, not just shoot off her ignorant mouth.
Larry Kostniuk
Reply to @Todd Harris: it was a lie, for JT to say these senators are impartial
Todd Harris
Reply to @John Gray: She said that not everything about residential schools was bad. Not exactly treasonous to me. Definitely not politically correct but who cares. There may be some truth to it.
Ralph Jacobs
Reply to @Todd Harris: You can't have an opinion that differs from the Liberal opinion.
Ralph Jacobs
Reply to @Todd Harris: I did attend a residential school and she is entirely correct. There are many who took education seriously and have done well.
Bill Gender
Reply to @ralph jacobs: SSSSHHHH quiet your not suppose to say that remember ...
Wilhelm Mux
Reply to @Todd Harris: If I said about you what she says about others I think you would not like it
Patrick Anglin
Reply to @William James: You need to be brighter than her about doing what you think she is trying to do. She becomes the mockery that spoils her message.
JOHN R MCTAGGART
Reply to @ralph jacobs: That's just dumb.
David Amos
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: NOPE you are
David Amos
Reply to @ralph jacobs: Oh So True
Brian Stewart Harper saw the Senate for the bloated unelected dinosaur it is and stopped appointing the troughsters. Aladdin has been busy stacking it with liberals er independent liberals, what could go wrong
Rosemary Hughes
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Where were you from 2011 onward. Harper appointed 59 of his friends and fundraisers - including the CFO of the Conservative party fund who ran the fund from his senate office.
Rosemary Hughes
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: Ooops 2009!
Phil Walters
Reply to @Rosemary Hughes: Don't forget he appointed Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau.
Henry Scott
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Who would up vote this?
Bert Van
Reply to @Henry Scott: The uneducated .
David Amos
Reply to @Brian Stewart: Methinks if just a few of the Independents sobered up, started acting ethically and speaking up then we would see a true change in a heartbeat N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Phil Walters: Lest we forget
Curtis Green Read "Independent Senators Group" and "non-affiliated senators" as Liberals. To say they're anything else is like everything Trudeau does, a farce. I mean "While described as "unaffiliated," the three representatives will be crucial to seeing the Liberal government's legislative agenda through the upper house." Believe me, they come when Trudeau whistles.
Anne Lacourt
Reply to @Curtis Green: Just a reminder that Harper did exactly the same thing..
John Watson
Reply to @Curtis Green: And yet, there was an article not too long ago that showed the exact opposite. With facts and figures.
Eric Wilder
Reply to @Curtis Green: No I do not believe you, evidence is available to the contrary. You just want to rant.
Carrie Green
Reply to @Curtis Green: NO - read man! JT is trying to change the Senate from blatant partisanship into something better - nothing says he has to, and nothing says it will be successful, but as harper learned, you can't just abandon it either. So, sure the 3 that form the leadership are likely libs, but the 2 new Senators seem quite capable and held high positions in their respective provinces thru different parties leadership. Sick and tired of people thinking the whole of government workers has to change every time the leadership does - these are people with not just a job, but a career.
Bren Hynes
Reply to @Anne Lacourt: no...he didnt. He allowed there tone a non binding election for senators and then appointed the victor
Graham Greene
Reply to @Curtis Green: Indeed.
Why can't the Liberals have a Senator the calibre of . . . say . . . . Lynn Beyak!?
Patrick Anglin
Reply to @Graham Greene: A Champion of Independent Thought. You have to give her credit for her stubbornness.
David Amos
Reply to @Curtis Green: YUP Just like the ones Harper appointed answered to his whistle
David Amos
Reply to @Curtis Green: Remember when the Liberals ordered their Senators to support Harpers bills? Methinks that was a rather telling thing N'esy Pas?
Reply to @David Amos:
Must
Undo
Terrible
Experiences
Reply to @JOHN R MCTAGGART: Methinks folks should Google your name and mine if they want some comic relief N'esy Pas?