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Time to abolish the home for hacks
Letter to the Editor
āGentlemen, you are not needed any longer.” – Oliver Cromwell
In 1864, there was much debate in Charlottetown about the creation of a Senate. When the Imperial Parliament passed the British North American Act in 1867 creating the Dominion of Canada, a mistake was made. The statute included the creation of a Senate.
Messrs. Duffy, Harb and Brazeau and Ms. Wallin are only the most egregious of offenders caught in supping too heartily at the public trough. What have the other Senators have been up to?Ā For their $132,500 annual salary, perks and unfunded pension, they tell us they provide valuable work to the Canadian people by analyzing legislation and commenting on public policy. I do this too in my idle hours. I do not receive a government salary nor do I have a generous and open-ended expense account or pension.
The Calgary Herald reported that Senator Elizabeth Marshall receives annually an extra $11,200 for chairing the Senateās selection committee and another $11,200 for being the Conservative whip. Senator Jim Munson receives annually $5,600 to act as vice-chair of the selection committee and $6,600 as the Liberal whip. The problem is the Senate selection committee has not met since June 2011. Salaries have been paid.
There are, of course, no NDP senators as the NDP has never formed a government and been able to benefit their hangers on with a Senate seat.
The political elite in Ottawa hold us in contempt. We are the great unwashed to whom some (not the appointed Senators) must occasionally turn their attention to elect a new parliament.Ā Ā In the meantime, they will do what they want and lie to us about their worthiness.
First, we as a people must know what all the members of the Senate have been up to with our money. We deserve a full accounting. Secondly, the Senate must be abolished. They are not needed.
If the lackies we call Senators had any self respect (and were capable of giving up fat paycheques, generous perquisites and unfunded pensions), they would pass a resolution that all benefits be stopped, that none will ever again attend and leave it to the Canadian people to abolish this home for hacks in accordance with the Constitution Act, 1981. Then again, this would allow Mr. Harper to fill the place with new Conservative appointments.
Gary Mac Donald,Ā B.A., B.A.Sc. (Min. Eng.), LL.B.,
Cranbrook
