NDP pitches referendum on scrapping the Senate

Canadians should vote in a special referendum — possibly as soon as the next federal election — on whether to abolish the Senate, says NDP leader Jack Layton.

The Vancouver Sun:

Ottawa — Canadians should vote in a special referendum — possibly as soon as the next federal election — on whether to abolish the Senate, says the federal NDP.

The proposal is contained in a motion proposed by the party that will be debated Tuesday in the House of Commons.

The New Democrats are also proposing the creation of a parliamentary committee to examine how to make representation in the House of Commons better reflect how Canadians vote. This would be accomplished, says the party, by combining the current system of direct election of MPs with a system of proportional representation.

"We've got to deal with fundamentals of democracy in the next election because you cannot trust Stephen Harper with our democratic institutions," Layton said Monday.

"He said he was going to reform our democratic institutions and he has simply adopted the same old practices that we saw him criticize years ago."

When Harper was in opposition, he promised to never appoint someone to the Senate. He has appointed 36 Tories to the Senate since taking power.

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