Ex-Senate Liberal leader Cowan says Trudeau’s changes could radically transform Upper Chamber into passive advisory panel

The Senate is a legislative body tasked with passing laws, not some sort of 'council of elders,' says retiring Sen. James Cowan.

James Cowan is leaving the building. The former Senate Liberal leader will take leave of the Upper Chamber on Jan. 22 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright

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BY MARCO VIGLIOTTI

January 11, 2017

As former Senate leader James Cowan prepares to leave the Upper Chamber, he’s warning that major reforms introduced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lessen partisanship threaten to transform the legislative body into a passive advisory panel.

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