Trudeau expels senators from caucus

(Update)

Surprising news out of Ottawa Wednesday where Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau expelled all Senators from his caucus. The announcement came in the morning, shortly after Trudeau told the 32 Liberal Senators that they will now sit as independents. The move comes as opposition parties try to keep the heat on the Conservatives over the Senate expense scandal.
It’s known as the Red Chamber, but as of Wednesday, there are no red members.

Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau: “There are no more Liberal Senators.”

The move came as a surprise. Announced just after the year’s first caucus meeting, Trudeau says it will reduce partisanship.which he followed with a partisan plea: “I challenge the Prime Minister to match this action, as the majority party in the senate, immediate and comprehensive change is in Conservative hands.”

The conservatives have a firm majority with 57 senators. The Prime Minister says Trudeau’s move won’t bring change: “I gather the change. Happen to be Liberal.”

Senate reform has been a hot topic in the wake of the spending scandal, and experts say that this move can accomplish a number of things.

Nelson Wiseman says that this keeps the Liberal leader, the leader of the third party, on the front page: “It projects the image that Trudeau’s open for change. From a public relations point of view, it’s a very good move.”

Michael Taube, a former speech writer for Prime Minister Harper, says that Senate reform has been Conservative territory for a while, and now: “Justin Trudeau for the first time, I say, since he became Liberal leader, really look like a leader. It’s authoritative. I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but it’s impressive none the less. What he’s really done is he’s trumped the Conservatives at their own game.”

He says now the Conservatives and the NDP have to backpedal, and adjust their positions.

Peter Graefe, a political science professor at McMaster University, told CHCH News the move could rebound on Trudeau.

“It depends all on how Canadians judge this. If they judge this as unworkable then it’s another example of how Justin Trudeau makes things up on the fly, and maybe not the best answers and so it may hurt his credibility as a good leader.”

“Within the Liberal party the fact that he’s making this change even though it’s contrary to the Liberal party’s constitution, and that he’s not even bringing this change to the Liberal party convention coming up in another month may also raise questions on his respect for rules and procedures.”

Video: More of Peter Grafe’s interview: