Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from constituents in Winnipeg and other communities in Manitoba regarding the abolition of the Senate.
The petitioners believe that the Senate of Canada is an undemocratic institution composed of non-elected members that are unaccountable to the people.
They believe that the Senate costs taxpayers more than $50 million per year. They believe that the Senate is redundant, given the roles played by the supreme court and the provinces in protecting minority rights and providing regional representatives. They also believe that the Senate undermines the role of MPs in the House of Commons.
Therefore they call upon parliament to undertake measures aimed at the abolition of the Senate.