Harper shows hypocrisy on Senate

OTTAWA – Stephen Harper has once again shown Canadians that he’s willing to do anything in order to hang on to power, with complete disregard for democracy, the NDP’s democratic reform critic said today.

“Does Mr. Harper think that Canadians aren’t going to notice this blatant flip-flop?” asks David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre). “Why is the prime minister more concerned with the 18 patronage appointments he can give to his friends than the 71,000 jobs that Canadian workers lost last month?”

In 2004, Harper promised not to appoint any senators until the Senate became an elected body, but is now reportedly planning to appoint 18 of them.

On December 14, 2005, Harper said, "An appointed Senate is a relic of the 19th Century." The Harper government has failed to make any changes to the Senate since then.

“This is not what people need to see from their government right now,” says Christopherson. “Families are facing financial insecurity and want to see their jobs, pensions and homes safeguarded. Appointing these senators will cost over $6 million this year alone – that’s a direct affront to Canadians who want to see their money used strategically to help the economy.”

“Every day this prime minister goes a step further in showing that he’ll do anything to maintain his grip on power, from shutting down Parliament to stacking the unelected Senate.”

The total cost of the Senate is $90,232,000 in 2008-2009 - an increase of 49 million since 1993 - even with a historic number of vacancies. Each Senator costs approximately $336,979 a year.