Former home and school president puts name forward for Senate

Owen Parkhouse, a veteran of all three branches of the Canadian Armed Forces and a former president of the P.E.I. Home and School Federation has launched a campaign to become P.E.I.'s next senator.

Parkhouse is distributing a petition as part of his campaign. He aims to get one per cent of Islanders to sign it in a demonstration of support for him.

"I'm going to be knocking on doors. I love meeting people," said Parkhouse.

"I think knocking on doors and talking to people, telling them who I am and what I am about and what my ideas are for the Senate and for the Island I think will help my cause."

Applications for Senate now open

A four-week application period for vacant Senate posts opened last week and will close Aug. 4. A two-person panel was announced to recommend an appointment, but the final decision will remain with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

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There are currently 19 vacancies in the Senate. One seat became vacant on P.E.I. in July 2014 when Catherine Callbeck retired.

Parkhouse likes the new process for appointing senators.

"I think it's an excellent idea, I think we need to get away from political patronage," he said.

"The past has shown there's been some poor choices perhaps made. I think this process will be much more fair and will bring the better people forward to the Senate."

Parkhouse plans to send his application in as soon as he has gathered the signatures he wants on his petition.

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