P.E.I. applications for senator being reviewed

Work now begins weighingapplications from Islanders who want to fill P.E.I.'s vacant seat.

At least two Islanders have applied for the job: former P.E.I. Home and School Federationpresident Owen Parkhouse, 51,and recently retired Veterans' Affairs lawyer Aidan Sheridan, 58.

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Parkhouse gatheredabout 500signatures of support from Islanders which he sentup to Ottawa with his application.

"I have been doing a lot of walking," Parkhouse told CBC's Power and Politics Thursday.

"I like meeting people and people on the Island really wanted to know who their next senator is going to be."

Good for senate awareness raising

Sheridan told CBC News he hasn't been campaigning, but he's been answering questions from Islanders about theprocess and the Senate itself. He thinks raising awareness about the institution is a good thing, something he believesParkhouse has been doing too going door-to-door.

I've announced that I'm only going to stay there for five years, if I'm appointed, because staying there until age 75 is crazy in my mind. Aidan Sheridan

"I just wish more people would have publicly announced that they're applying. I expect that there's more than two people that have applied, other than Owen and myself," said Sheridan.

"I really don't know what the secrecy is about it. I think if you're looking to represent people of P.E.I. you should be able to stand up and say, 'I'm looking to represent you.'"

Namesof P.E.I.applicants will not be released

CBC News asked Ottawa for a list of all applicants from P.E.I. but were told that information would not be released due to privacy, and Ottawa said it's too early to say how many applications came from the Island. Applications closed Thursday.

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A five-memberIndependent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, recently announced for P.E.I., will review the Island applications.That board includestwo Island members Chief Brian Francis and Jeanette Arsenault, entrepreneur and business owner whowill work with three federally appointed members in Ottawa.

Certain merit-based criteria willbe used to assess candidates, including whether they're Aboriginal, a minority,bilingual, non-partisan and if they have a goodunderstanding how the legislative process and government works.

Both Parkhouse and Sheridan feel their chances are as good as anyoneelse's, although Sheridan is worried his inability to speak French fluently couldcount against him. Parkhouse is bilingual.

Both have worked for Veterans' Affairs and so believethey have a good handle on the federal process.

'An opportunity to serve'

Both said they are happy to be possiblyheading into the Senate during atime of reform, but they have differentviewpoints on whether there should be term limits for senators. Currently, the rules allow appointees to stay until they are 75.

Sheridan believes that's too long.

"I've announced that I'm only going to stay there for five years, if I'm appointed, because staying there until age 75 is crazy in my mind. There's still people in the Senate who were appointed by Pierre Trudeau," said Sheridan.

"The average term these days is 18 years. That's too long. That's a career path, that's not an opportunity to serve, and I want an opportunity to serve."

'You have to be a visionary'

Parkhouse argues serving for a longer period of time would give him the time to become an expert.

"I think the Senate has a huge role. When you think of the House of Commons and they're elected for four to five year periods, they're thinking for the next generation," said Parkhouse.

'The Senate is a body where you're thinking for the next generation ... You have to be a visionary." Owen Parkhouse

"The Senate is a body where you're thinking for the next generation. If I was appointed to the Senate, I'm only 51 now, I'd be there for another 24 years. That's another generation, so you have to have those skills. You have to be a visionary."

According to the government website, the advisory board is expected to come up with a short-list of candidates in the next couple of months.The Trudeau government has said it will announce the successful candidates by the end of the year at least.

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