6 independent senators form 'non-partisan' group

Half a dozen senators saythey are forming a working groupto promote an "independent, non-partisan" Senate, days after two of them quit the Conservative caucus to sit as independents.

"Partisanship that has been blindly one-sided and lacked impartiality, has seriously eroded the credibility and reputation of the Senate," said senators Diane Bellemare, Jacques Demers, Elaine McCoy, Pierrette Ringuette, Michel Rivard and John Wallace in a joint statement on Thursday.

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The creation of a non-partisan working group in the Senate comes as the Liberal government prepares to announce the first in a series of Senate appointments, with a total of 24 vacancies to fill.

"The objective is to promote a properly functioningindependent, non-partisanSenate," the senators said.

The group of sixacknowledge that the rules of the chamberaplace for sober second thoughtdonot formally allow the group to act asa recognized third party, but they hope to change that.

"This must change, as must all existing archaic rules and practices that support this type of partisanship in the Senate and which do not accommodate the requirement of an independent chamber of sober second thought," the senators said.

Advisory board to cost $1M per year

The new Liberal government createdan advisory board torecommend "non-partisan"senators tothe prime minister.

NDP MP Erin Weir, whose party is in favour of abolishing the Senate,was critical of the costs associated with the government's decision to appoint an advisory board.

"The president of the Treasury Board admitted that the new advisory board for Senate appointmentswill cost $1 million every year and that its recommendations will be secret," Weir said during question period on Thursday.

Treasury Board President Scott Brisonacknowledged the $1 million price tag, butsuggestedthat a Senate free of expensescandals is worth the investment.

Brison said the new appointment process will "ensure that Canadians of the highest merit are named to the Senate of Canada, and I can tell him that this does require some level of investment."

'Status quo' not acceptable

BellemareandRivard, whoquit the Conservative caucus earlier this week, said theyare supportive of the Liberal government's push to make the Senate less partisan.

Rivard told CBC News earlier this week the move is "irreversible" and that he could envisage the day where senators no longer sit according to party lines.

Bellemaresaid theSenate appointment process is "a step in the right direction," but that it must be backed up by structural changes.

Today, the group of six said they would work to make changesto existing Senate rules and practices.

"The status quo is clearly not acceptable to the general public, nor should it be to any of us as the members of the Senate," the senators said.

"The credibility and integrity of the Senate require nothing less."

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