The solution is simple: Abolish the Senate.
We don’t need to elect our senators and we’re tired of the appointment of party insiders, although the recent appointment of Canadians who have made significant contributions to society is admirable.
However, given that the Senate does little more than rubber stamp House of Commons legislation and the best it can do is delay that legislation, it means the second house doesn’t play any effective role.
Why should we be paying to maintain a virtually useless political institution?
The Senate was originally intended to be a second house that would provide checks and balances – based on regional representation – on the actions of the House of Commons but it’s never fulfilled that role.
A political institution that looks after the interests of regions in the country is a useful concept but given the powerlessness of the Senate, it really does little to further regional aims (as opposed to the interests of powerful central Canada).
So, even electing senators would do little to balance the power of the commons. Therefore, let’s just abolish the upper house and pocket the tax money being saved.
The Senate costs taxpayers $106,264,111 a year, not including contributions to the pension plan, according to a report prepared by KPMG LLP chartered accountants, entitled Statements of The Senate of Canada For The Year Ended March 31, 2011. To do nothing!
So, send Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin and all the rest of them and their salaries and expense accounts packing.
Unless the federal government wants to give the Senate more power to do effective work – in which case an elected Senate would become necessary – give them all the boot and save us the money.