PM to make unprecedented appearance at Senate committee to push reform

[tuvor]

Joan Bryden, The Canadian Press
Published: Wednesday, September 06, 2006

OTTAWA -- Stephen Harper is taking his pitch for Senate reform directly to appointees of the much-maligned upper house.

The prime minister will make an unprecedented appearance Thursday before a special Senate committee, which is examining his proposal to limit the term of new senators to eight years.

Senators currently sit for as many as 45 years before being compelled to retire at 75.

“Ultimately, Senate reform is something that’s of great interest to the prime minister,” said spokesman Dimitri Soudas.

“He wants to personally indicate, as prime minister, his commitment to both incremental and to fundamental reform of the upper house.”

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=af990c2c-e563-460b-93e5-420fb9411363&k=9782