Preston Manning has some tough words for senators: reform the Senate or prepare to see it abolished.
In a fiery open letter posted to his website, the founder of the Reform Party and former leader of the Canadian Alliance ripped into the upper chamber over its inability to adapt in the face of what he calls 鈥減ublic disgust.鈥�
Four senators are embroiled in a raging scandal over allegations that they inappropriately claimed living and travel expenses.
Taxpayers currently contribute more than $100 million to the Senate each year but Manning writes that senators 鈥渃ontinue to grievously abuse these provisions.鈥�
鈥淚f the Senate cannot properly govern itself, why should the public believe it should have a role in governing them?鈥� Manning writes in his letter.
Speaking to CTV鈥檚 Power Play on Tuesday, Manning said the Senate needs to reform now or its days will surely be numbered.
鈥淔rankly, I think if that鈥檚 not done, if Canadians don鈥檛 see a strong group within the Senate actively promoting its reform, there鈥檚 going to be this demand for abolition and very few people to stand in its way,鈥� he said.
The topic is nothing new for Manning, who has been an outspoken advocate for Senate reform for the last quarter century. But even long-time advocates are starting to harshen their tone, he said.
They鈥檙e now saying 鈥淪enate reform if possible, but if not possible, abolition,鈥� Manning said.
The problem is 鈥渃onscientious鈥� senators are being discredited by the actions of a few 鈥渄elinquent鈥� senators, he added.
鈥淚 think the Senate鈥檚 got to disassociate itself from those folks,鈥� he said, suggesting that embattled senators should resign or face expulsion.
鈥淚f they鈥檙e proven innocent later, reinstate them.鈥�
The Senate was first introduced to keep the House of Commons in check with 鈥渟ober second thought鈥� on bills and national issues. This hope has been 鈥渟uffocated by the stench of party patronage that clings to so many Senate appointees,鈥� Manning writes in his letter.
The greatest weakness of the Senate, according to Manning, is that senators are unelected and unaccountable to electors.
The Senate, therefore, needs to become a democratically elected body, he said.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 judge the effectiveness of the Senate 鈥� until the place is democratically accountable,鈥� Manning told CTV鈥檚 Power Play. 鈥淭hen make a judgement as to whether the institution adds something or not.鈥�
In Alberta, more than three million votes have been cast in province-wide elections to select senators in 1989, 1998, 2004 and 2012.
The results, however, have largely been ignored, said Manning.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been no recognition of that demand for democratizing the place,鈥� Manning said.
And even senators have been surprisingly quiet on the issue of Senate reform, he said.
鈥淲here鈥檚 the proactive, reform-oriented coalition in that Senate itself? It鈥檚 time for them to step forward,鈥� he told CTV鈥檚 Power Play.
Manning refused to cast any blame on Stephen Harper, who appointed many of the senators currently caught up in controversy: Pamela Wallin, Mike Duffy and Patrick Brazeau.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 frustrated,鈥� said Manning.
He believes Harper appointed the senators to quietly carry out Senate reform.
鈥淭he fact that that鈥檚 not occurred, I鈥檓 sure, is a source of frustration for him,鈥� he said.
