THE OTHER PLACE — Senators are poised to debate the chamber's rules. The proposed amendments are either long-overdue reflections of an evolving Senate or opposition-stifling measures forced through by a desperate government. It depends who you ask. Most senators appointed by JUSTIN TRUDEAU, and a bunch of others who sit in various parliamentary groups, favor the changes. Conservatives oppose them fiercely. At the heart of the debate is who gets a say in how the chamber does its business. — An awkward era: The way MARC GOLD tells it, the new rules would reflect a longstanding call for change to accommodate a new reality. The government representative in the Senate says the status quo is built for the “duopoly” of Liberals and Conservatives who filled the place for decades. There aren't officially many of either anymore. Trudeau doesn’t allow senators in his caucus, and Conservative numbers have dwindled to 13. These days, most senators don't sit in a party caucus. They sit in three groups that formed since 2016. The Canadian Senators Group and Progressive Senate Group are led by leaders chosen from the ranks. The less-centralized Independent Senators Group is facilitated by a facilitator. But the rules, Gold says, are built for government and opposition alone. The sweeping changes would expand debate time for the other parliamentary groups, and give them new influence in the chamber's business and agenda. — Rewind the clock: Six years ago, a special committee on modernization published a call for equality among parliamentary groups — the group's 13th report in two years. There have been other efforts, says Gold: "A lot of good thinking and reports, but not very much action." In 2022, the government amended the Parliament of Canada Act to grant some new powers to the emerging groups, including consultations on new officers of Parliament. But last year, a Senate committee couldn't agree on a slate of new rules. Which brings us to the current motion — a government motion — which takes precedence over non-government business and forces debate in the full chamber. — Tory opposition: Expect targeted interventions from Conservative senators who consider enhanced powers for any government-appointed senators a dilution of opposition powers. DON PLETT brings broad-based rhetorical heat. DENISE BATTERS challenges the independence of Trudeau appointees. CLAUDE CARIGNAN poses technical questions in the weeds of the rules. In an interview with Playbook, Batters insisted the new rules would crowd out speaking time for any senators who aren't in leadership positions, diminishes senators who aren't affiliated with any group, and reduces the opposition's ability to question witnesses at committee. The Conservative list of grievances runs longer. They don't have the votes, but they will drag out debate as long as possible. Their view is the Westminster system's integrity is at stake. GOLD'S WORLD — One of the Conservatives’ major beefs with Gold is their perception that he is a Trudeau puppet. Playbook asked the Senate’s government rep to contextualize his role in the parliamentary milieu. He’s a bit of a unicorn, so it took a few minutes. — This, not that: Gold is not a member of Cabinet, though he is a member of the Privy Council and does attend the Cabinet committee on operations. He isn't a member of a political party, but has donated to several over the years. He doesn't sit in the Liberal caucus, though he does vote for government legislation. The longtime law prof likens the government to a legal client. Gold splits his job into two parts: → A legislative shepherd who negotiates the debate, study and votes on government bills. → A Senate whisperer who advises the government on the “mood of the Senate, what the Senate needs by way of time to study bills,” and “what the government might expect by way of amendments” to its legislation. → Donation history: Conservatives tar Gold as a Liberal shill. His record is a bit of a rainbow, though he hasn’t given money to a party or candidate since he was appointed in 2016. Search "Marc Gold" in Elections Canada's database and you'll find contributions to Liberals, Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc Québécois. (He has also donated provincially to the Parti Québécois.) → Retirement watch: Gold's run as a senator could time neatly to the election cycle. He turns 75 on June 30, 2025, shortly after the last moment Parliament could adjourn before the summer.
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