OTTAWA -- Stephen Harper is a hypocrite practising the principles of convenience, critics and opposition MPs charged after learning the long-time foe of an unelected Senate is poised to dole out 18 prize patronage posts to loyal Tories.

Duff Conacher, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch, was shocked Harper would pursue a move that is bound to upset even his core supporters. Not only does it prove he's a man of hollow words, but also he's out of touch with Canadians who want a reformed Senate, he said.

"Prime Minister Harper is breaking yet another promise and practising patronage politics as usual -- in violation of everything he said he would do in office," Conacher said. "Along with his recent shenanigans, this will be another step towards ending his political career."

POOR TIMING

NDP MP David Christopherson called the move a severe affront to Canadians during a time of economic crisis. A senator's job comes with a $130,400 salary, travel perks and job security until age 75.

"What they want to hear about is not 18 new jobs for Harper's Conservative friends, they want to hear their government and their elected representatives working on their problems, their jobs, their futures," he said. "That's what's so outrageous. When did filling the Senate suddenly become such a priority?"

A spokesman for the prime minister said the move to fill the 18 vacancies is, in part, because the Liberal-NDP coalition could stack it with "separatists" if they defeat the government.

Christopherson called that "nonsense."

'ORGY'

"The last thing anybody expected was an orgy of appointments from a prime minister who may be on his way out the door," he said.

Liberal MP Joyce Murray accused Harper of practising the "principles of convenience."

"At a time when Canadians are worried about their savings and their livelihoods, Mr. Harper appears consumed with playing political games as he struggles to save his own job," she said.

Liberals will continue to hold the majority of seats in the Senate even if Harper fills all 18 vacancies. Currently, Liberals hold 58 seats and the Conservatives 20.

Some critics are also blasting Harper's timing -- making a slew of appointments after he prorogued Parliament to stave off his government's defeat.

Constitutional expert Peter Russell said the closest example in Canadian history is when prime minister Charles Tupper tried to appoint senators in 1896 after having lost an election, but prior to Sir Wilfrid Laurier taking office. Back then the governor general, Lord Aberdeen, refused Tupper's request as an abuse of prime ministerial power -- but Russell said this situation is not as clear-cut.

"She can certainly refuse to summon the named people to the Senate. That is within her powers."

"Of course it creates a constitutional row whenever a governor general refuses to accede to a prime minister's request on anything ... I think she should accede to them," Russell said.

Considering the circumstances surrounding the appointments, Russell said Harper should break with the Liberal tradition of using the Senate as a partisan reward and choose senators from a wide range of business, arts and science backgrounds like they do in the House of Lords in the U.K.