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July 24th, 2015

NDP REALITY CHECK: Harper had ten years to fix the Senate

After ten years of packing the Senate with his cronies, Stephen Harper is now promising to never appoint another Senator – except if he has to. A quick glance at Harper’s record shows why Canadians can’t trust him.

Stephen Harper came to power promising to end Liberals’ scandals and patronage. High on that agenda was a significant reform to the Senate.

“I will not name appointed people to the Senate.”
– Stephen Harper, March 14, 2004

Under his watch, the Senate remains unelected, unaccountable, and is now under indictment.

  • Number of his appointments to the Senate: 59
  • Number of Senators who were defeated in democratic elections: 10
  • Number of Senators currently facing RCMP investigation or charges: 34
  • The cost of the Senate under Harper’s watch: nearly $1 Billion

Harper had ten years to fix the Senate. He failed. He stated last year that “significant reform and abolition are off the table.”

He broke his promises, he appointed Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin and now he wants to run away from his record with an 11th hour conversion. Stephen Harper is part of the problem and is the reason why Canadians want change.