The current count of non-affiliated (or Independent) senators stands at 44, meaning they are in a plurality in the 105-seat body. There are 21 independent Senate Liberals and 40 Conservatives. Housakos calls the appointment of Independent Senators a "Con Job"0:44'Smoke and mirrors'Senator Bob Runciman, another Harper appointee to the upper chamber, said he is under no illusion that the government's move to brand these senators as "non-affiliated" is a sham. Harder noted that the Independent senators appointed this spring by Trudeau have voted differently from one another, and there isn't a "predictable, uniform" outcome. All Conservative senators who spoke to CBC News said they support returning to the former system of partisan appointments, but with some tweaks.

Source: CBC News November 02, 2016 19:05 UTC