Madam Speaker, since 1993 there have been 34 appointments by our current Prime Minister to the Senate and there are currently four vacancies. That makes for a total of 38 seats. If there were an election in 2001, another 14 seats would be available for a total of 52, the majority of seats in the Senate since the Prime Minister has taken office.
What has changed since some of these quotes were made? The first one reads:
I...support Senate reform. If it is done properly, a restructured and revitalized upper chamber can give Albertans a voice in the governance of Canada. If elected Liberal leader, I pledge to work for a Senate that is elected, that has legislative powers of its own, and contains strong representation from all regions of Canada.
That was at the Liberal leadership on June 23, 1990. The next one reads in part:
—a reformed Senate is essential. It must be a Senate that is elected, effective and equitable.
That appeared in Hansard of September 24, 1991. The next one reads:
The Liberal government in two years will make it (Senate) elected. As Prime Minister I can take steps to make it happen.
This was in a speech to 400 delegates at the annual general meeting of the Alberta branch of the federal Liberal Party in 1990. The next one reads:
You want the triple E Senate and I want one too.
That was a statement on February 2, 1990 to the Toronto Star . The next one reads:
As I said before, and repeat, reform of the Senate is extremely important. I believe in it.
That can be found in Hansard of May 14, 1991. On February 1, 1997, the next one is:
If he names him (Senator Stan Waters) that's the end of appointed senators who are not elected.
The last one reads:
I know that in western Canada they were disappointed that there was not, there's the Senate, because they wanted to have an equal Senate and an elected Senate and I thought it was a good thing to do.
That was on CBC Prime Time News on December 29, 1992. Those are all quotes from our current Prime Minister. What has changed?