Senate speculation ramps up on the Hill

Senate rumours are swirling to fill the gap created by the hiatus on Parliament Hill. Ever since Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament on Dec. 30, the buzz has been all about who he will appoint to fill five Senate vacancies. There are currently two empty seats in Ontario, one in Quebec, one in New Brunswick and one in Newfoundland.

Senate appointments require balance among the provinces of the Confederation, but also balance within each province.In New Brunswick, for example, there are concerns about regional representation which may be answered this time through appointments from the largely francophone north-east region, which is felt to be underrepresented.

The two lesser-known contenders include the widely respected Elvy Robichaud, who served as former premier Bernard Lord's health minister for several years, and Roger Clinch, a former Progressive Conservative MP from Acadie-Bathurst (formerly Gloucester) from 1984 to 1988. Sources say Lord has been ruled out as a contender, because he still has designs on running for the federal Conservative leadership. Another name now being circulated is that of Mulroney-era cabinet minister Bernard Valcourt, who served as Mulroney's Human Resources minister. Federal Conservatives say Valcourt was not disaffected by the merger of the Progressive Conservative and Alliance parties. And finally, another Lord cabinet minister, Margaret-Ann Blaney, is also considered in the running.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Loyola Sullivan is rumoured to be a shoo-in. The former Progressive Conservative provincial cabinet minister was one of the first supporters of Harper's leadership bid for the Canadian Alliance, and is said to be very close to the prime minister. Former Progressive Conservative MP Loyola Hearn was also rumoured to be in the running, but is considered a less likely candidate.

In Quebec, rumours have swirled around Andree Ruffo, a former judge who has acted as a child advocate. However, former Mulroney minister Benoit Bouchard is also considered to be in the running.

In Ontario, Bob Runciman, a former member of the cabinets of Mike Harris and Frank Miller, is considered a likely appointment. Runciman has been lobbying for a Senate position for some time, and he has extensive legislative experience in several provincial cabinet posts and as leader of the official opposition. The second Ontario job could go to David Braley, owner of the B.C. Lions football club, former owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and big-time charity donor. Insiders say former provincial leadership contender John Tory isn't a likely bet: as a Progressive Conservative he's not seen to share the same "political heritage" as his federal counterparts, and he could clash with the prime minister on key issues.