NDP’s Mulcair takes aim at Senate abolition
The scandal unfolding in the Senate is giving new momentum to NDP calls for abolition.
Leader Thomas Mulcair says he and his New Democrats will be talking to Canadians about the need to eliminate the Senate, and he promises that its demise will be a key plank of the partys next election campaign.
Were going to stop trying to find excuses for keeping a bunch of party hacks, bagmen, political operatives and defeated candidates sitting in appeal of the duly elected members of the House of Commons, Mr. Mulcair told reporters on Wednesday.
Were making sure were opening up a conversation with Canadians about this, he said. Were giving them the ability to come to us to help us roll up the red carpet of the Senate and to finally get rid of this vestigial organ that we are convinced can be removed without any harm to the democratic body.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndps-mulcair-takes-aim-at-senate-abolition/article12058932/
Senate Hall of Shame
Why are we paying $90 million a year for an unelected, unaccountable Senate?
While Canadians are working harder just to make ends meet, the Senate in Ottawa is working less, but increasing in size and cost. It sits only 90 days a year and costs taxpayers over $90 million to run.
Unelected and unaccountable senators represent the parties that appointed them, not their regions or the Canadian people. They are only required to work three days a week when they actually bother to show up.
Provinces like Manitoba and Quebec scrapped their Senates years ago. The people of New Zealand have also done away with their upper chamber. Its time for Canada to do the same.
Stephen Harper once called the Senate a relic of the 19th century. But hes stacked the Senate with 58 partisan appointments since becoming Prime Minister.
Its time to abolish the Senate.
http://petition.ndp.ca/senate-hall-of-shame