Question Period - Friday, December 9, 2011

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, upon introduction of Bill C-7, the government said with great fanfare, “The measures introduced today will go a long way in making the Senate a more accountable and democratic institution”. However, Mr. Speaker, since Bill C-7 makes it illegal for elected senators to be accountable, my question to the minister is, where exactly is the accountability part in Bill C-7?

Hon. Tim Uppal (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC):

Mr. Speaker, this government received a strong mandate from Canadians to reform the Senate. The status quo in the Senate is unacceptable. Senators can serve terms of up to 45 years without a democratic mandate from Canadians. Canadians find that unacceptable. We ask the opposition to support this and change the Senate, not support the status quo in the Senate.

Mr. David Christopherson (Hamilton Centre, NDP):

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats agree that the current status quo in the Senate is unacceptable. That is why we think we ought to get rid of it.

My question to the minister is this. Accountability is a fundamental part of democracy. Accountability means that people run on a set of promises, make commitments to people, serve their terms in office and when they are concluded, they go back to the people and say, “Here is what I did. How do I stack up? Do I deserve to be re-elected?” That is accountability. Bill C-7 makes it illegal for senators to run for re-election and, therefore, they cannot be held accountable.

I ask again, where is the accountability part of Bill C-7?

Hon. Tim Uppal (Minister of State (Democratic Reform), CPC):

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want a say in who represents them in the Senate and we are providing an opportunity for Canadians to have a say in who represents them in the Senate. The Senate itself must change in order to reach its full potential as an accountable and democratic institution. The Senate must come into a 21st century democracy, we are taking reasonable steps to reform the Senate with the Senate reform act and I encourage members opposite to do the same.