We know that Prime Minister Harper does not care much for a powerful federal government, and that he views Parliament as a place where federal power is exercised. Unable to win a majority government so far, Harper has set his eyes on winning control of the Senate, and so cementing the power of veto in the hands of his right wing Tory government:
"Prime Minister Stephen Harper has laid out his plan to draw even with the Liberals in the Senate.
With his goal the magic number of 50 Conservatives in the Red Chamber, he stacked nine vacancies with partisan nominations yesterday.
Four opposition senators will reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 by January. Assuming that the Tories are still in power then, appointing their replacements would give each of the two dominant parties the same number of seats. The new standings would help the Conservatives ease their agenda through Parliament."
What do these numbers mean?
Just this: Harper is within months of gaining control of the Senate, and thereby of blocking any programs which a future Liberal government (minority or majority) might have.
Will Harper use the power of the Senate to block Liberal programs?
You better believe it.
What can stop him?
Only one thing: his removal as the government of Canada. As long as he is prime minister, he has the power to appoint senators.
And every day that Liberals delay in removing the Tories from power is another day in which Harper can plot to gain control of the upper house.
If Michael Ignatieff does not move heaven and earth to replace the Tories as government, then the Tory veto over future Liberal government programs can rightly be laid at the feet of the Liberal leader. Not the Liberal Party. Not his advisors. Just Michael Ignatieff.
Because it will have happened on his watch, and he could have taken steps to vote the Tory government out of office.
