10 senators to be referred to RCMP

[steven lloyd]

I personally believe the senate is a necessary evil as a chamber of sober second thought.

Agreed. The problem comes with their appointment and the resulting sense of entitlement. An elected Senate, in theory, might provide more accountability – although we have to question that given the lack of accountability we seem to tolerate from our already elected politicians who all get away with pretty much anything they want due to a docile and complacent electorate.

[I Think]

removed.

[Tacklewasher]

Agreed. The problem comes with their appointment and the resulting sense of entitlement. An elected Senate, in theory, might provide more accountability – although we have to question that given the lack of accountability we seem to tolerate from our already elected politicians who all get away with pretty much anything they want due to a docile and complacent electorate.

I'm not an advocate of having a senate, but I don't think the answer is an elected one. It's hard enough to get people to vote now and putting more work on voters will not be the answer.

If we have to have one, then we need stricter rules on the appointments.

The PMO can ONLY appoint individuals who have been a sitting MLA or MP having been elected a minimum of two times. So they have twice been shown to be electable. If the PMO wants to have a Senator who doesn't meet this criteria, then the individual needs to be voted in by Parliment.

[mr.bandaid]

I'm not an advocate of having a senate, but I don't think the answer is an elected one. It's hard enough to get people to vote now and putting more work on voters will not be the answer.

If we have to have one, then we need stricter rules on the appointments.

The PMO can ONLY appoint individuals who have been a sitting MLA or MP having been elected a minimum of two times. So they have twice been shown to be electable. If the PMO wants to have a Senator who doesn't meet this criteria, then the individual needs to be voted in by Parliment.

Yeah because a previously seated MLA or MP will know how to do a better job of hiding their expenses.

[Muzza]

Yeah because a previously seated MLA or MP will know how to do a better job of hiding their expenses.

At least it is a better method than used now!

[mr.bandaid]

What we have now is fine, what we do not have now is what is missing and that is an oversight body which could be part of an MP's portfolio. If they are not going to police their own expenses then we need to find a way to do that for them. Shame that we have a senate full of exceptional Canadians and this is what has come of it. It truly is a black eye for Canada.

[steven lloyd]

I'm not an advocate of having a senate, but I don't think the answer is an elected one. It's hard enough to get people to vote now and putting more work on voters will not be the answer.

That’s a good point, but it does place the responsibility for a democratic government where it belongs – with the voters.

[Veovis]

I think the one issue that would be a HUGE one with an elected senate would be a further Americanization of the system, that would create a "the most money wins" type senate. We have already seen what that creates, and our current system, though flawed, can still function. If these issues happen, I do wish to see the offending parties punished and perhaps jailed if this is needed.

[jimmy4321]

Thankfully 2 of the 3 federal parties know the benefits to a functional Senate in this form of government.
The NDP are butt kissing Canadians by pushing abolishment of the Senate ,easy sell and target. To bad he doesn't give a crap about the consequences only cheap votes.

[Rwede]

Thankfully 2 of the 3 federal parties know the benefits to a functional Senate in this form of government.
The NDP are butt kissing Canadians by pushing abolishment of the Senate ,easy sell and target. To bad he doesn't give a crap about the consequences only cheap votes.

The gullible leftists will lap it up, thinking the taxpayers may save huge money if the Senate is abolished. Fact is, the annual cost is about as much as a rounding error in the federal budget.

Fools believe what they want to hear. Angry Tom's tellin' them.

[The Green Barbarian]

The gullible leftists will lap it up, thinking the taxpayers may save huge money if the Senate is abolished.

Since when have gullible leftists ever cared about saving taxpayers money? Never. All they want to do is spend spend spend. The only reason gullible leftists would support the senate abolishment would be that then there would be absolutely no one between themselves and a majority house wanting to pass every stupid ideologically flawed and failed social experiment they can dream up. With a senate in the way, every single stupid law would get pushed back, with hearty guffaws and directions to where they can stick it, as it should. Keep the Senate, for sure. It's the only thing that saved Australia from the insane machinations of Kevin Rudd.

[Rwede]

Since when have gullible leftists ever cared about saving taxpayers money? Never. All they want to do is spend spend spend.

True dat. Save isn't in their vocabulary, poor choice of words on my part.

The thought rationale may be that they can get that money re-appropriated to some funky public sector union raises.

[GordonH]

Precursor to the current Conservative Party their Leader Preston Manning was always wanting Senate reform / elected Senate

Of course that would cost 100s of millions (whatever the current rate for a Federal election) every 4, 5 years or how often the elections would happen.

[jimmy4321]

If you don't know the merits of a Senate in Canada a nickel spent is too much.
It's a part of our government and should remain.

[I Think]

Bottom line is this spending taxpayers money at will and whim has been happening for a long time.
This PM promised to change things and did not.

The raging, ranting, rambling righties will no doubt not want to hear this, but it is clearly time to heave steve.