That is right, Mr. Speaker, even from Liberal members, those who benefit wholesale from having the appointment process right now, those who hope to be able to wind up in the favoured books of the Prime Minister and to sit in the other place.
The reason there is such contempt, the reason there are such calls for abolition is that we do not have accountability. Individuals are not accountable to the people who elect them. They are not accountable to the regional interests as was set out in 1867. They are not accountable to the interests of the provinces. These are serious problems.
People talked today about Bill C-20. The Bloc Quebecois industry critic talked about public interest advocacy and weakening competition. I share the member's concerns with regard to these two issues. I believe that having a change in the Senate will advance this idea of strengthened competition and will advance public interest advocacy.
Senators have a difficult time speaking on behalf of the public and advocating on behalf of the public interest when they do not represent or have not been elected by the public. When they are appointed by the Prime Minister, the process by which they are appointed, that very deed itself taints what they otherwise would do.
Today I heard the Tory industry critic talk about Bill C-20. He said that the intent of whistleblowing legislation is good. Beyond just intents the member also talked about proper scrutiny, more consultation and wanting to have an active Senate. Nobody more than I would like to see an active Senate.
The Senate sits 68 days a year. I would like to see the senators do more scrutiny but in order to do that, I need them to attend. When there are people who attend only two days of the year and senators who only show up for 10% of their meetings, I raise these concerns because I want to see an active Senate. I want to see an effective Senate. I would like to have all of the people in the other place in attendance every single one of those 68 days of the year. I would like to see them there more than that but if we could at least see them all there for the days they are required to show as it stands right now, I would feel we had a more active and effective Senate.
I believe in consistency. My Tory colleague talked about consistency in the law. I want to see consistency. I remember the Liberal campaign promises in 1968. They were before my time but I read about them. Pierre Elliot Trudeau campaigned across the land that he wanted to see changes to the Senate, but in 1968 the election came and went and we did not see changes to the Senate. The Liberal leadership in 1990 promised to see changes in the Senate. We did not see them then.
I want to see consistency as much as anybody. So for all these reasons I agree with my colleagues. I want to see more scrutiny. I want to see more accountability. I want to see a better whistleblowing institution. The Senate must be reformed.