Harper Appoints 7 New Senators

Canada gets its second elected senator as Alberta's Betty Unger gets called to the Red Chamber.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced the appointment of seven Canadians to the Senate, including one elected by the fine people of Alberta. Betty Unger, a one-time Canadian Alliance candidate, came in second place in Alberta's 2004 vote for federal Senators, trailing just behind current Senator Bert Brown. Joining her from Ontario will be Vernon White, Ottawa's police chief, and Dr. Asha Seth, an Indian-born "physician-philanthropist." Representing Manitoba will be JoAnne Buth, the president of the Canola Council of Canada, and from Newfoundland and Labrador will be Norman Doyle, a Tory MP from St. John's who served in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2008. Quebec will also have two vacancies filled by Jean-Guy Dagenais, a longtime police officer and failed 2011 Conservative candidate, and Ghislain Malthais, a Liberal member of Quebec's National Assembly throughout the 1980s and 1990s and now a leading voice for Francophone business in North America. According the PMO's news release, all have agreed to abide by proposed legislation that will introduce 10-year term limits and elections for senators. We can assume they've also agreed to rubber stamp whatever legislation comes their way.