Reality Check: Memories of Senate reform and Mariachi bands – when Conservatives had principles

During the late 1990’s the precursor to the Conservatives, the Reform Party, held many strong democratic principles, not the least of which was their loathing for the status quo Senate.

In 1998, Reform MPs pilloried disgraced Liberal Senator Andrew Thompson for soaking up both the sun and his Senate salary, while mostly living in Mexico.

With little more than sombreros, a Mariachi band and a Senate reform dream, Reform MPs held a ‘historic’ presser in the Senate foyer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYKvgvzggY).

While munching on burritos, these idealistic Reform MPs declared:

“Something is sick here in the Senate… an institution that has run its course”

– Deborah Grey, Edmonton North Reform MP, Feb 10, 1998

“We asked the [Senators] on the inside to fix it, otherwise we’ll fix it from the outside”

– Bill Gilmour, Nanaimo-Alberni Reform MP, Feb 10, 1998

15 long years later – 8 of them under Conservative rule – nothing has been fixed in the Senate.

Today’s prime minister, born in the grassroots of a protest movement, now governs with the help of the 53 unelected and unaccountable Senators he appointed.

Canadians deserves better.