Senate
ORG
Senate
Mr. Harper promised to halt the revolving door between the cabinet and lobbying firms, and work to transform the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, from an appointed body to an elected one. But Mr. Harper appointed him to the Senate so he could serve as public works minister. Countering criticism that he was backtracking from his promise to reform the Senate, Mr. Harper said that the appointment was only temporary. During the campaign, Mr. Stephen Harper promised to halt the revolving door between the cabinet and lobbying firms and work to transform the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, from an appointed body to an elected one. Mr. Harper appointed an international trade minister who was elected only two weeks before as a Liberal, a defense minister who was once a lobbyist for military contractors, and an unelected public works minister who must be appointed to the Senate to serve. Countering criticism that he was backtracking from his promise to reform the Senate, Mr. Harper said that the appointment was only temporary and that Mr. Fortier would run for a Commons seat in the next general election.