NDP Democratic Reform Critic David Christopherson says a Conservative plan to introduce an eight-year cap on Senate terms is a "sideshow" that won't lead to real reform in the upper chamber.

Minister of State for Democratic Reform Steven Fletcher said he intends to propose new legislation that would require senators to leave their posts after a single, eight-year term.

In a telephone interview with CTV.ca, Fletcher said the new rules would only apply to senators appointed after Oct. 2008, which would include the 18 senators appointed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a controversial move last December.

But Christopherson, MP for Hamilton Centre, who has not yet seen the proposed legislation, said the Conservatives are "missing the opportunity for real action."

"This is nothing but another sideshow, a distraction from the real issue: How do we make the Senate accountable to the people of Canada?" Christopherson said in an email statement sent to CTV.ca.

"Setting term limits for patronage appointments will only let the Conservatives spread out their patronage among even more of their friends - it won't ensure that senators make their decisions based on the will of Canadian electors."

Current rules dictate that senators, who are appointed by the prime minister, can serve until the age of 75.

Senators appointed before last October will still be able to serve until then, Fletcher said.

While getting the budget passed is the government's first priority, Fletcher said, he hopes that it will only be a few months before Senate reform can move to the top of the agenda.

"I hope it will be before summer, but it depends on the co-operation of the other parties in getting the budget moved through Parliament," Fletcher said.

Fletcher said that the government would also consult with Canadians on the prospect of an elected Senate.

The NDP would like to see the Senate abolished entirely, said Christopherson, who allowed that his party would be open to a restructuring to make the upper house "an accountable, elected body."

Harper has long advocated caps on Senate terms, as well as for an elected Senate, whereby the provinces would vote for their own representatives in the upper chamber.

The Conservatives had previously tabled legislation that called for Senate term caps. But that bill did not receive widespread support in either chamber of Parliament and died with last fall's election call.

Harper's rash of new appointments shortly before Christmas drew sharp criticism from the opposition parties.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said the appointments, which occurred while Parliament was prorogued, show that the prime minister cannot be trusted.

"Mr. Harper has said repeatedly that he would never appoint senators, including during the last election," he said in a statement released after the appointments were announced.

"Canadians cannot understand why he keeps breaking his word."