Senator of the week – Senator Fabian Manning – Priciest of the Harper 18

“Canadians have a right to look to government as an example. We have a responsibility to show restraint and respect for their money.”

– Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Economic and Fiscal Statement, 27 November 2008

A year ago this month, mere weeks after his finance minister’s emotional sermon on government thrift, Stephen Harper appointed a record 18 Senators. Senators, including top-spender Fabian Manning, who together have charged a staggering $1.08 million in travel and office expenses on top of their $132,300 salary in the first three months of 2009.

Manning, a former Conservative MP who voters decisively rejected only months earlier, took to his new Senate entitlements with gusto, charging the highest tab of the Harper 18 – an amazing $112,200 for three months. By comparison, what Manning spent in 3 months is equal to 40 percent of the average MPs office budget for the entire 2008-09 fiscal year.

Also in the top ten most expensive of the Harper 18, is Conservative spam-spokesman Mike Duffy who came within $11,400 of out-spending Manning. Defeated Conservative candidate Yonah Martin charged the most of the18 on travel – missing a quarter of the days she was supposed to be in the Senate, presumably in order to visit the British Columbians who never elected her.

“Senator of the Week” is a project by New Democrats to highlight the dubious achievements of Canada’s 105 unelected and unaccountable Senators.

Stephen Harper vowed he would “not name appointed people to the Senate.” Yet as Prime Minister he has broken that promise – 29 times and counting. As a result, Canadians are paying 220 percent more for Senators that Harper once called “a relic of the 19th century.”