Local reader says the time has come to abolish the Senate and sooner than later

Dear Editor:

If the premiers of the provinces in Canada are too politically sensitive to have the real stuff to push for the abolition of the Senate, then it behooves us, “we the people”, to demand a Canada-wide referendum on a simple question with a common sense approach.

It should be worded to either say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on whether or not we need or don’t need the Senate.

If the referendum were to go ahead, there would be no campaigning one way or the other. It is just a simple question.

It’s not hard and needs no clouding of the issue. This issue is non partisan and not political.

If the answer is no and the majority of Canadians decide we do not need the Senate, then there should be a very short period of time allowed to vacate the premises in Ottawa. The time period should be no more than allotted to selling an average house, maybe one or two months tops if needed, but that’s it.

There should be no severance pay, holiday pay, retraining pay or pension. It was not a job earned by election, but simply a patronage appointment paid by Canadian taxpayers without our blessing.

If the Liberal Party or Conservative Party feels obligated to pay these Senators, then they can pay severance or whatever from their own party coffers.

These were their friends, not ours. It’s their responsibility, not ours.

As for the “sober second thought” oxymoron, we did not vote for them to look after the affairs of the country. We elected our representatives to represent us. It’s high time they started doing their job and live up to the promises we were given prior to their election.

The money saved from abolishing the Senate could go for important things such as health care, education, infrastructure, less taxes, less or no gas tax, no GST and the many other taxes we’re all burdened with in this country.

One stipulation would be that with extra funds freed up there would be no raises for our elected members as they are already paid very well to do their jobs.

It is our money, we the people, we are talking about here.

This is called common sense. It’s really simple.

It should be done province by province, not by population as the big two, Ontario and Quebec, rely heavily on “political funds.”

It’s time the people of this country let our representatives know exactly how we feel about our money and how it should be spent.

Fred Cawdell

Osoyoos, B.C.