Mr. Speaker, the tens of thousands of dollars that Senators Brazeau and Harb have to repay are just the tip of the iceberg. The tab for Conservative senators covers not just fraud and other items, yet to be disclosed, but also millions of dollars that have been wasted on maintaining an institution that is both outdated and pointless.
There was a time when the Prime Minister condemned the Senate and called it “a dumping ground for the favoured cronies of the Prime Minister”.
Today, the Senate has become a dumping ground for his friends and fraudsters. He has stuffed the Senate with his bagmen and organizers of election tricks.
Canadians deserve better. They deserve better than a government that has lost track of $3 million and is sitting on $29 million in uncollected taxes while it cuts services. On top of that, the government is spending taxpayers' money so that politicians who cannot get elected can live the good life in the Senate.
Canadians deserve a party that is serious about managing public money. In 2015, they deserve the NDP.