While the Conservatives may order their stable of senators to line up against the bill, they still might not have the numbers to scuttle it.
One of their own, Quebec Senator Pierre Claude Nolin, says he endorses the legislation and some of the Independents are waffling. Alberta Independent Elaine McCoy, thankfully, came out swinging against it.
And this piece from Lawyer's Weekly suggests that:
Other Conservative caucus members, particularly francophones who sympathize with the bill’s aim, could also abstain from what the government says is a free vote.
A close vote, then.
4 comments:
My fear is they will let it go through and say they don't want an unelected Senate to kill it-then they will make it an issue of principle (i.e., an acrimonious wedge issue) and use it to win close ridings.
Well, I doubt this can be successfully used as a wedge issue, just because the Tories have stuff at stake in Que. that they don't want to pitch away. Which is why they've been uncharacteristically subdued in their opposition (at least that's my theory). Also, it basically effects the prospects of a couple of dozen lawyers at most, and nobody cares about lawyers.
Wholeheartedly concur with BCL. If the reformatories want to go all guns blazing against C-232, and lose their 10 Quebec ridings in the process ...let them! Attacking bilingualism doesn't help them much in the maritimes or Ontario either.
"Also, it basically effects the prospects of a couple of dozen lawyers at most, and nobody cares about lawyers."
OMG. Still?
This is not about the career aspirations of lawyers. It is about appointing quality people to the SCC.
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