Trudeau says Senate decision focused on long-term, despite immediate confusion

VANCOUVER – Justin Trudeau says former Liberal senators can call themselves whatever they want — but they’re not in the Liberal caucus.

The Liberal leader made the surprising announcement earlier this week that the party’s senators had been booted from his caucus.

Trudeau claimed the move would remove the partisanship from the upper chamber, but it has been followed by confusion about the effect of the decision.

The former Liberal senators have insisted they still are Liberals, and at least one senator has complained that Trudeau didn’t consult them first.

In Vancouver today, Trudeau says he can’t control what those senators say, but he insists they will not be involved in the Liberal caucus, national campaigns or fundraising.

He says despite the immediate confusion, his focus is on the long-term goal of having independent senators with a process to appoint them.