WINNIPEG

Feds lose bid to dismiss court case over PM's refusal to fill Senate vacancies

The Canadian Press Published Thursday, May 21, 2015 9:46AM CST Last Updated Thursday, May 21, 2015 9:47AM CST

Prime Minister Stephen Harper answers a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 22, 2015. (Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press)

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OTTAWA -- The federal government has lost a bid to thwart a court challenge aimed at compelling Prime Minister Stephen Harper to fill Senate vacancies.

Federal Court Justice Sean Harrington has rejected the federal government's motion to have the case dismissed.

The case was launched by Vancouver lawyer Aniz Alani.

He is asking the court to declare that Senate vacancies must be filled within a reasonable time.

Harper has not appointed a senator since March 2013 -- when the scandal over improper expenses claimed by some senators began to heat up.

There are currently 20 vacancies in the 105-seat, unelected upper house.