Local groups ignored in Senate appointment process: Borotsik

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This article was published 24/02/2016 (3700 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A former Brandon-Souris MP is concerned about the federal government’s Senate appointment process in Manitoba.

Rick Borotsik, who served as a Progressive Conservative MP from 1997 to 2004, said a number of key organizations in the province weren’t allowed to provide input on candidate selection.

The most glaring omission is the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, according to Borotsik.

“Why municipal organizations weren’t asked or consulted kind of irritates me,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau changed how the Senate is appointed in an attempt to end the upper chamber’s 149-year stature as a hub for political patronage.

Since Confederation, Senate appointees were selected by the prime minister. The new process, however, asks organizations to nominate candidates who are forwarded to an independent advisory board.

The board reviews nominations and presents a short list to the prime minister for selection.

The first recommendations, which are laid out under a transitional process, are set for “early 2016” and will fill five seats, including two in Manitoba.

There are currently three of six Senate seats filled in the province — Conservative Janis Johnson appointed in 1980 by Brian Mulroney, Liberal Maria Chaput by Jean Chrétien in 2002 and Conservative Don Plett by Stephen Harper in 2009.

JoAnne Buth was appointed to the Senate in 2012, but resigned less than three years later to become CEO of the Canadian International Grains Institute.

During the transition, the board “must undertake consultations” with groups that include indigenous peoples, community-based service groups, municipal organizations, as well as a host of other groups.

Borotsik said the whole process was orchestrated quickly.

“It wasn’t terribly well advertised either,” he said.

While it’s unclear at this point who will be recommended to the prime minister, Borotsik said he won’t be surprised if it doesn’t include a candidate from Westman.

“I sat with a lot of senators when I was there and the majority of them come from Winnipeg,” Borotsik said. “I can’t think of anybody who came from southwestern Manitoba.”

Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jordan Ludwig said the chamber wasn’t consulted as part of the process.

Borotsik said he was told the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce was consulted.

Manitoba Chamber of Commerce president Chuck Davidson said he was consulted for the appointments.

“Based on the time frame we didn’t put anyone forward,” Davidson said, adding the organization had approximately two weeks to nominate people.

He did, however, write a letter in support of Michael McMullen, who was recommended by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

McMullen is the former chair of the board of directors for the national chamber. It’s not known whether he will make the short list.

Privy Council Office spokesman Raymond Rivet said in addition to two seats being filled in Manitoba, two will be filled in Ontario and Quebec.

Rivet wouldn’t discuss which organizations were consulted during the process.

“With regard to the groups consulted in Manitoba, the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments for Senate Appointments does not have information to share at this time,” he said. “It is continuing its work and a report on its operations will be forthcoming.”

Calls to the AMM and Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce were not returned by press time.

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