Two prairie Conservatives were among five new senators appointed Jan. 25 by prime minister Stephen Harper, expanding the Conservative grip on the upper chamber.
Regina lawyer Denise Batters, widow of former Conservative MP Dave Batters, and Calgary lawyer Doug Black were appointed to a job that can last until they are 75, although both have agreed to support government legislation to limit Senate terms and encourage provinces to hold elections to select future senators.
Black was the leading Alberta senator-in-waiting after a non-binding province-wide vote held last year as part of the provincial election.
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He replaces long-time Liberal senator Joyce Fairbairn, who retired in mid-January because of ill health.
Conservatives now hold 65 of 105 Senate seats with more coming vacant later this year.
The NDP quickly condemned the appointments as a “golden handshake” for Conservative supporters in violation of Harper’s earlier opposition to appointments to an unelected Senate.
“The unelected and unaccountable senators will collect a total of $661,500 next year in salary, not to mention costs for assistants and free travel in Canada,” said a party news release.
However, the opposition did not single out Batters for criticism.
Her husband, who was elected in 2006, struggled with depression and committed suicide in 2009 at age 39.
Harper gave an emotional address at his funeral about the impact of mental health issues on families.
The biography of Denise Batters issued by the Prime Minister’s Office noted that she is a “strong supporter and champion of mental health and suicide prevention.”
She sponsors charity golf tournaments that have raised $50,000 for advertisements about depression and suicide. The statement said her husband “fought anxiety and depression.”
