Seems to me for the past 40 years we have always heard about whether or not our Senate is too large.
Each Prime Minister has added his favourites to the list as senators come and go.
Now it appears we have a group of senators, some of whom are living high on the backs of the Canadian taxpayers, who care more about political perks than political policy.
Living expenses for homes they rarely visit, hundreds of thousands in travel expenses and regular no-shows when Senate is in session.
With an inquiry now underway into who is cheating the government it may be a good time for the Prime Minister to make major changes to the senator’s role.
Meanwhile, senators are busy paying back money they took from the government unfairly. Obviously, they know they are guilty or they wouldn’t be running to the bank to repay expenses.
Some outwardly lied about their principal residence to get housing allowances. That is fraud.
If it was you or me we would already be in jail awaiting trial. Senators feel by paying it back now they have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar it is okay to just carry on.
If the Prime Minister can’t bring himself to lay charges against his buddies then at least kick them off the Senate.
If we have to continue paying for a Senate then I don’t think it is unfair to at least expect the senators to be honest, law abiding citizens.
We keep talking about finding ways to cut government spending at all levels. Reduce the size of the Senate, reduce the number of Members of Parliament and reduce the number of provincial MLAs. Cut each group in half and no one will even notice. (Except those who lose their jobs).
Our national newspaper association recently reduced our board size from 40 to about 24. It was too cumbersome to try and do business with 40, can you imagine trying with over 300?
