Liberal Senate leader joins Dion in predicting budget will pass
Fri Jun 15, 6:13 PM



OTTAWA (CP) - The Liberal-dominated Senate, which had mused about amending, delaying or even defeating the Harper government's budget bill, appears to have fallen into line behind Leader Stephane Dion.


Dion had been at odds with Grit senators earlier this week, insisting that they have no legal choice but to pass budget implementation legislation, no matter how little they like it.


But some senators, particularly from the Atlantic provinces which are furious about the budget's changes to equalization, vowed to campaign for the bill's defeat.


Celine Hervieux-Payette, the Liberal leader in the Senate, wouldn't go that far. But she did muse about the possibility of amending the bill and she did cite a 1993 precedent, in which the Senate first amended and then killed a budget implementation bill.


However, late Friday, Hervieux-Payette issued a joint news release with Dion, in which she predicted the bill will pass in the upper house.


"In my view, based on past experience, the likelihood is high that the budget implementation bill, notwithstanding its many failings, will pass in the Senate following a thorough examination," she said.


The release was carefully worded to avoid the impression that Dion is instructing senators, who jealously guard their independence, how to vote.


Dion acknowledged that the Senate has "a responsibility to conduct a thorough review" of the bill.


"I am confident that - in the spirit of sober second thought that characterizes the Senate - honourable senators on both sides of the aisle will undertake that review in a measured and professional fashion," he added.


Insiders said the purpose of the release was to show Dion and his Senate leader singing from the same songsheet in hopes of refocusing attention on the content of the Tory budget rather than conflict among Liberals.