Good news … there's a new Liberal Leader in the Senate. Jim Cowan (NS) will assume the office as soon as the media release is issued, likely later today or early tomorrow. 
 

Jim is an excellent choice for this position. He's well known for his inclination to bring people together in a common cause for the benefit of Canadians as a whole.
 
When I contacted Jim to congratulate him, he immediately said "I hope to work cooperatively with everybody. When we become too partisan, we destroy what is best about the Senate." I can only hope that the Conservative leadership takes note and makes an effort to meet Jim half way.

What a solid choice! He has replaced one of the most self satisfied, incompetent, former nobody's, Celine Hervieux-Payette. I am glad she's gone. Cowan is polite, smart, non partisan and genuine. Good work Liberals! Unfortunately he will face one of Canada's most vicious ministers, Majory LeBreton. Majory LeBreton's worldview extends only one block south of parliament hill, she has never been elected to any position and lacks the finesse or knowledge to be effective. Cowan's appointment shows respect for the Senate, LeBreton's shows a degree of contempt.

Great news -- though I don't know his work in particular.  But always great to hear that someone can rise above partisan bickering for the good of the country. 

Us regular folk are sick of the political backbiting and just want politicians to get on with the important stuff, and work together to do it.

I hope that these initatives will help with expelling the power that the prime minister held over parliament this last session.  I do hope that Senators will be able to focus on their work with out pressure from the HOC and confidence bills etc.

Re:your hope that the conservative leadership will meet Senator Cowan half way - I have to wonder how possible that will be given Harpers comments about Senate Reform the day after the election.... It does not leave much hope; however genuine Senator Cowans intentions may be, that there will the opportunity to leave partisan politics aside - at least on the gov's side of the chamber.

If the Senate could really operate in a nonpartisan manner, keeping Canada's best interests as its primary goal at all times, this country would be a far better place in the long run.  The neat thing about this approach is that it doesn't even need constitutional talks to make it happen.  All we need is for Senators to make a conscious decision to behave honourably and to leave petty, personal considerations at the door when they walk into the Red Chamber.

That sounds very good indeed.  It's high time we got beyond negative politics.  I'm soooo sick of the US elections, for example.  Ours were bad enough.