The Senate: Conservative and Liberal cash cow

The Senate is an undemocratic and unaccountable archaic relic that costs Canadian taxpayers more than 90 million dollars each year. But there are two groups that are benefitting greatly from the status quo Senate: Liberals and Conservatives.

Each year, these two parties receive cheques from their Senator friends totalling tens of thousands of dollars.

Between 2007 and 2012, the Conservative Party of Canada received more than $210,000 from Members of the Senate. But they were outdone by the Liberal Party of Canada, which raked in over $213,000 in donations from Senators.

And these amounts don’t include the fundraising events organized by senators – or any travel allowances used – also paid for from the public purse.

Rather than continuing to get rich from donations from their friends in high places, Conservatives and Liberals should focus on finally putting an end to the wasted millions spent on the Canadian Senate. They should agree to the NDP’s plan and abolish this archaic institution.

While Conservatives continue to defend Senate entitlements, New Democrats will defend taxpayers.