Mulcair in B.C. for Senate abolition tour

Failed candidates sitting in Canada’s Senate disrespectful to voters

PORT MOODY – In the backyard of failed Conservative candidate turned unelected Senate appointment Yonah Martin, NDP leader Tom Mulcair said that having failed candidates appointed to the Senate is undemocratic.

“Appointing failed candidates like Yonah Martin to the Senate is a slap in the face to Canadian voters. These are candidates rejected by the people – and yet Stephen Harper decided to override the wishes of Canadians and appoint them to the Senate anyway,” said Mr. Mulcair. “Instead of stacking the Senate with failed candidates and party insiders, the NDP would abolish it – and save Canadian taxpayers $90 million a year.”

One of ten failed Conservative candidates rewarded with Senate appointments by Stephen Harper, Ms. Martin will cost taxpayers more than $6 million if she serves her full term. Ms. Martin also broke election rules when she exceeded her spending limit by around $8,000 during the 2008 General Election, eventually being forced to sign a compliance agreement with Elections Canada. Despite this, she was still appointed to the Senate.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair is travelling across the country this week on his Roll Up The Red Carpet tour – shining a light on the unaccountable, unelected and under investigation Senate. In contrast, Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are running away from accountability and refusing to answer for their role in the senate expense scandal. Canadians deserve better.