NDP challenges Harper: clean up partisan senate

OTTAWA – Canadians are fed up with the hyper-partisan and undemocratic senate and want to see changes now, said New Democrat Leader Jack Layton. Speaking in Ottawa today, Layton outlined Stephen Harper’s failure to live up to his promises on making the Senate more democratic and challenged the Prime Minister to make the Senate more accountable.

“Unfortunately, today’s Senate is too often just partisans working for their parties while being paid with public money. No ‘sober second thought’ can come from unelected appointees with such an obvious conflict of interest,” said Layton. “Let’s take two small – but important – steps towards a more accountable Senate. First, remove all failed candidates and party insiders from the Senate. Secondly, let’s make sure all Senators stop fundraising for political parties.”

Layton made his comments in a keynote address to the Canadian Study of Parliament Group. Layton reminded the Harper’s hypocritical record on democratic reform, including stacking the Senate with party insiders and using it to kill legislation already passed by the elected Members of Parliament.

“While in opposition, Stephen Harper called the Senate ‘a relic of the 19th century’ and vowed that if he ever became Prime Minister, he would not appoint unelected Senators,” said Layton. “But the Prime Minister broke that promise within weeks of being elected.”

Layton said that while New Democrats remain firmly committed to Senate abolition, he is challenging the Prime Minister to immediately adopt these two practical reform proposals to strip the Senate of some of its worst undemocratic principles.

“Mr. Harper won on a promise to be different. To bring real accountability to Ottawa. But after five years, virtually nothing has changed – except maybe the colour on the letterhead,” said Layton. “I believe we can build a better government that Canadians can feel good about. And I’m asking the Prime Minister – and all elected Members of Parliament – to take these small steps with me.”