NDP Leader Jack Layton today gave a speech to a conference organized by the Library of Parliament that studies Parliament's institutions. Here's some excerpts from that speech (I have bolded the two “asks” from the NDP):
Five years ago, when Stephen Harper was opposition leader, he knew there was something wrong with an unelected Senate.
He thought it was unfair—undemocratic. He called an appointed Senate “a relic of the 19th Century.” He didn’t like how, “the Prime Minister holds a virtually free hand in the selection of Senators.”
And he promised: if he ever got the chance to be Prime Minister himself, he would not name appointed people to the Senate.
He insisted: anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.
That makes a lot of sense to me.
But Mr. Harper has turned his back on those democratic principles. Instead of solving the problem, he’s become part of the problem.
Stephen Harper now holds the all-time record for appointing the largest number of Senators in one day.
And who are his appointees? The Conservative Party faithful.
Spin doctors, fundraisers and insiders.
People like his former press secretary. His former Conservative party president. His former national campaign director through two elections. And let’s not forget: Several defeated Conservative candidates who were rejected by voters
Mr. Harper has broken his promise to do politics differently. Not only does he play the same old politics—he plays them better than anyone.
That’s why New Democrats think it’s time for a change.
And today, we’re offering a solution.
If it were up to us, we’d get rid of the unelected upper chamber tomorrow. We want it abolished.
Most Canadians wouldn’t miss it. Recent polling shows that only 18 per cent approve of the actions of the Senate.
But getting rid of the Senate isn't up to us alone. As part of a minority Parliament, we have to work together.
Today, I’m asking Stephen Harper to remember that time—not so long ago—when he opposed an unelected senate. I’m asking him again today if he was serious about what he said. Because it’s time to start down that path. It’s time to start stripping the Senate of some its worst, undemocratic properties.
Today, I’m asking Mr. Harper to start with two modest but vital first steps.
First, I’m asking Mr. Harper to stop appointing failed candidates and party insiders to the Senate. I’m asking him to reach out to Canadians by making that firm commitment.
Second, I’m asking him to work with me to make sure all senators are banned from fundraising for political parties.
No “sober second thought” can come from unelected appointees with such an obvious conflict of interest. It makes a joke of our democratic system, and it’s not fair to Canadians.
As a Conservative, I am in agreement that the Senate should be elected. I would like to see qualified people from all party lines. Perhaps that is Utopian of me. But I'd like to believe that being a Conservative is truly less government, lower taxes and some moral backbone. This hasn't been reflected as of late, and I wonder whether our Conservative leaders need a kick-in-the-pants from their grass roots…again.