“Even friends with deep pockets can’t remove the stink of entitlement” Says Hughes
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes
“We must clean up corruption and lift the veils of secrecy that allow it to flourish. We must do nothing less than replace the culture of entitlement with the culture of accountability.” That was Stephen Harper’s opinion only one year before he became Prime Minister. Much has changed since he stated those noble goals if we are to judge by action instead of words. The ongoing Mike Duffy saga backs that up.
Mr. Duffy, the former broadcast journalist appointed to the Upper Chamber in 2008, has claimed living expenses for a cottage on Prince Edward Island that he rarely uses as he represents that Province in the Senate. On that front he is not alone. A handful of Senators including ex-Liberal MP, Mac Harb have also been accused of taking money for houses that don’t exist or are rarely used.
Duffy struggled to control the story ever since. Most recently it has been revealed how he paid back the improperly claimed expenses. Claiming he couldn’t afford it, despite a handsome salary, Duffy turned to the Prime Ministers Chief of Staff, Nigel Wright, who cut him a $90,000 cheque from his personal account. But that’s no excuse for the sense of brazen entitlement that led to the improper claim in the first place. It also shows just how embarrassing the Senator’s behaviour is for a party with a self-styled, reputation as champions of transparency and accountability.
While Senator Duffy tried to pay his way out of trouble, other Senators, including the divisive Patrick Brazeau, and Mr. Harb, are refusing to pay back their living expenses. Ultimately, the questions can’t stop at whether these Senators should pay the money back. It is reasonable to ask if they would have done anything if they hadn’t been caught in the first place and if the system is so far gone that we are only learning about worst case examples.
Beyond questionable expenses, too many unelected Senators are seized with partisan, non-parliamentary work. The place is stacked with party hacks, fundraisers, and full-time campaigners. Despite his promises to be different when it came to appointing Senators, Stephen Harper has been just the same as his predecessors. It is only mildly amusing to note that many of his appointees are the ones causing him the most grief these days.
This all reinforces the notion that the Senate is a colossal waste of public money – a boondoggle if you like. The upper Chamber rarely adds any value to the work of Parliament. There is little public oversight of the institution and even less accountability to taxpayers who foot the considerable bill.
New Democrats have always maintained that the best course of action is to abolish the Senate. It is clear the place has little purpose beyond serving the interests of two political parties who have made an industry out of ‘running’ the country.
We no longer have public financing for political parties in Canada, but the Senate amounts to a back-door around that. Until that door is barred and the lights are turned out, your hard-earned tax dollars will be put to use ensuring bright political futures for the ruling elite in Canada.
