When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled his cabinet Wednesday, there was a notable absence: no appointment for a government leader in the Senate.
One constitutional law professor says that鈥檚 a significant change that signals a new direction, but could also present challenges for the new Liberal government.
鈥淚t certainly indicates that he鈥檚 going to stick to his plan of not having any senators in his caucus,鈥� University of Ottawa professor Carissima Mathen
In early 2014, Trudeau removed all Liberal-appointed senators from his caucus in what he called a first step toward reforming the scandal-plagued Red Chamber.
During the election campaign, Trudeau pledged to appoint senators through a non-partisan, 鈥渕erit-based鈥� process.
Not appointing a government leader in the Senate seems to be the first step towards that promise. But many questions remain about how the Senate will function with a Conservative majority and a group of senators who are Liberals, but not in the Liberal caucus,
The biggest question, she said, is: 鈥淗ow will this Conservative-dominated Senate deal with Liberal legislation?鈥�
It鈥檚 unclear how Trudeau plans to deliver on his Senate reform promises.
There are currently 47 Conservative senators and 29 senators who used to be in the Liberal caucus, but are now technically independent. There are 22 vacancies in the Senate.
Traditionally, senators are appointed directly by the prime minister, and along party lines.
But if Trudeau makes any Senate appointments, he has indicated that an independent panel would assess potential candidates and make recommendations, Mathen said.
However, any final decisions would still be Trudeau鈥檚, she said.
鈥淭he choice does remain his because under the Constitution, the prime minister must retain ultimate control for appointing senators.鈥�
Sen. David Smith, who was appointed by former Liberal prime minister Jean Chretien, said he believes the Senate can function as a non-partisan chamber of 鈥渟ober second thought.鈥�
At a recent Senate meeting, 鈥渢he mood was as non-partisan as I鈥檝e ever seen it,鈥� he told 麻豆传媒 Channel Thursday.
With a 鈥渃omfortable majority,鈥� the Conservatives could theoretically 鈥渢orpedo everything鈥� in the Senate, Smith said.
But he doesn鈥檛 believe that will happen.
鈥淭here was no mood of that at all,鈥� he said.
Since Trudeau removed them from caucus, Liberal senators now consider themselves 鈥渋ndependent Liberals,鈥� who can vote freely, Smith said.
鈥淲e are not whipped. We can vote with our conscience and what we think makes sense.鈥�
