Canada’s Senate: Second thoughts about sober second thought

Thank you, Jean-Rodrigue, for this chance to share a New Democrat perspective on democracy in 2011. I certainly appreciate the work you’re doing at the Canadian Study of Parliament Group.

At a time when many Canadians are turning away from Parliament,you’re turning to face it—asking how we can bring our democracy to better health. So kudos to you for the effort, and thanks for asking me to be part of it.

A lot of what I know about politics, I learned from my Dad.

He was a Progressive Conservative cabinet minister in a minority government—just like we have now. He knew if he wanted to get results, he had to work with others. Tackle problems together. And in my three decades in politics, I’ve seen great things happen when people work together.

But I worry that Canadians don’t feel very positive about the political process.

You’ve probably heard it inside your own circle of family or friends.

I’m not voting...
My vote won’t count anyway...
Those politicians are all the same...
Only in it for themselves...

People in this country are feeling out of touch with their government.

It’s not hard to see why: An electoral system where people are made to feel their vote doesn’t count. A prime minister and opposition leader who are growing more out of touch with Canadians by the day. And yes, an unelected Senate that kills landmark legislation that was duly adopted by the elected House of Commons.

Well, I want Canadians to feel good about government again. To see it as the embodiment of their collective capacities as citizens. To feel they have a voice.

And while the story of how we got here might be complex, sometimes the best solutions are the simplest. Sometimes, it’s just about getting back to basics.

Here are two very basic ideas that I think Canadians could get behind:

First, let’s let our elected Members of Parliament—and only our elected MPs—speak on behalf of Canadians. Second, let’s stop wasting money on the undemocratic parts of our government that aren’t benefitting Canadians.

Sounds like common sense, doesn’t it? But too often in Ottawa, the drive to hold onto power keeps minority governments from making common sense decisions.

* * * * *

Five years ago, when Stephen Harper was opposition leader, he knew there was something wrong with an unelected Senate.

He thought it was unfair—undemocratic. He called an appointed Senate “a relic of the 19th Century.” He didn’t like how, “the Prime Minister holds a virtually free hand in the selection of Senators.”

And he promised: if he ever got the chance to be Prime Minister himself, he would not name appointed people to the Senate.

He insisted: anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.

That makes a lot of sense to me.

But Mr. Harper has turned his back on those democratic principles. Instead of solving the problem, he’s become part of the problem.

Stephen Harper now holds the all-time record for appointing the largest number of Senators in one day.

And who are his appointees? The Conservative Party faithful.

Spin doctors, fundraisers and insiders.

People like his former press secretary. His former Conservative party president. His former national campaign director through two elections. And let’s not forget: Several defeated Conservative candidates who were rejected by voters

Mr. Harper has broken his promise to do politics differently. Not only does he play the same old politics—he plays them better than anyone.

Last fall, the Conservative-dominated Senate was used to veto legislation the Prime Minister simply didn’t like.

The Climate Change Accountability Act was Canada’s only federal climate change legislation. It passed twice in a minority Parliament. It was good, solid legislation—supported by a majority of elected MPs. Legislation embodying the direction Canadians want to take.

But on November 16, 2010, the Senate defeated Bill C-311 at second reading. No committee review. No witness hearings. Canada’s only legislative effort to fight climate change—gone. Killed by unelected friends of the Prime Minister.

Now unelected senators seem poised to do the same thing to Bill C-232—Yvon Godin’s bill requiring Supreme Court judges to understand both official languages. A bill duly passed by elected MPs.

Well, let me tell you, just because someone flipped pancakes for the Conservative Party, that doesn’t give them the right to override the wishes of elected MPs.

Too often, today’s Senate is doing partisan work for public money.

Yes, let’s talk about money.

Because Canadians are paying more and more for a discredited institution that does less and less—at a time when people are dealing with a slow economic recovery, and the Harper government is contemplating billions in cutbacks.

Maintaining the Senate costs Canadians around $90 million dollars a year. And while folks are out there looking for jobs—trying to make ends meet when their EI runs out, scraping by on pensions that don’t even cover basic necessities—Senators are earning $132,300 a year for a three-day work week.

Add in travel and expenses and each Senator is costing us $859,000 a year. All for an institution that won’t play any relevant role in the lives of most Canadians.

I can think of a lot of things that do matter to people. Like creating family-supporting jobs, improving public health care, and building a decent future for our kids. Lining the pockets of party insiders probably isn’t high on anyone’s list.

* * * * *

That’s why New Democrats think it’s time for a change.

And today, we’re offering a solution.

If it were up to us, we’d get rid of the unelected upper chamber tomorrow. We want it abolished.

Most Canadians wouldn’t miss it. Recent polling shows that only 18 per cent approve of the actions of the Senate.

But getting rid of the Senate isn't up to us alone. As part of a minority Parliament, we have to work together.

Today, I’m asking Stephen Harper to remember that time—not so long ago—when he opposed an unelected senate. I’m asking him again today if he was serious about what he said. Because it’s time to start down that path. It’s time to start stripping the Senate of some its worst, undemocratic properties.

Today, I’m asking Mr. Harper to start with two modest but vital first steps.

First, I’m asking Mr. Harper to stop appointing failed candidates and party insiders to the Senate. I’m asking him to reach out to Canadians by making that firm commitment.

Second, I’m asking him to work with me to make sure all senators are banned from fundraising for political parties.

No “sober second thought” can come from unelected appointees with such an obvious conflict of interest. It makes a joke of our democratic system, and it’s not fair to Canadians.

* * * * *

Will this fix Canada’s democratic deficit? No, but it’s a practical first step.

Real political reform, of course, involves more than just the Senate. To really change the way politics works, we need to reform the elected House as well.

It’s up to all of us, in a minority Parliament, to make sure our political system works for the people we’re elected to serve. To bring Canadians back in touch.

We can start improving our elected House too by enforcing the Federal Accountability Act—a law introduced by Mr. Harper in 2006.

He said he wanted to “replace the culture of entitlement” in Ottawa with a “culture of accountability.” But five years later, lobbyists and government are closer than ever. (Jim Prentice. Nigel Wright.) Watchdogs and senior public servants find it thankless and impossible to do their jobs. (Munir Sheik. Pat Strogan.) And on freedom of information, a recent study ranked Canada dead last.

So let’s get to work cleaning up Ottawa. And while we’re at it, let’s help Canadians feel like their vote matters.

Let’s bring about the electoral reform New Democrats have been working for since the days of Ed Broadbent. Incorporating proportional representation would produce a fairer House that truly reflects the political choices of all Canadians. And it would bring us up to speed with most of the world’s democracies.

Let’s also make sure prorogation is only used for legitimate purposes.

Many Canadians learned this word when Mr. Harper prorogued Parliament twice in two years. They didn’t like what they saw.

That’s why the NDP passed a successful motion to study prorogation. To make sure we work things out the Canadian way—through common sense, negotiation, compromise—instead of letting the Prime Minister press pause every time he has to face a challenge in the House of Commons.

* * * * *

Shortly before Mr. Harper was elected in 2006, he said “we are going to change the way government works in Ottawa, not just change the colour of the letterhead.”

It has been five years since the Harper Conservatives took power. Mr. Harper won on a promise to be different. To bring real accountability to Ottawa. But nothing has really changed except for that letterhead.

We need to do better.

Together, I believe we can build a better, more democratic Parliament that Canadians can feel good about.

Not one that plays second-fiddle to powerful business lobbyists—or that the Prime Minister can shut down at his whim. Or whose best work can be vetoed by an unelected chamber that was founded to protect elites by keeping “commoners” in check.

Instead, let’s start building a Parliament that puts those ordinary people front-and-centre.

A Parliament that can embody our collective capacities as Canadians.

A Parliament that can channel citizens’ best instincts to do the right thing—whether that’s reducing social inequality, or doing our part to fight climate change.

It will take hard work, and it will mean setting the political games aside. Today, I’m asking Mr. Harper—and all Members of Parliament—to take that first step with me.

Thank you. Merci beaucoup.