Bloc Québécois

SENATE REFORM

 

The Bloc Québécois is in favour of abolishing the Senate. Before even voicing the party’s position on Senate Reform, however, the party emphasizes the need of consent from Quebec and other provinces for any changes regarding the Senate.

 

The Bloc claims that Quebeckers do not see a point in the existence of a Senate – “the job of senator has increasingly become a political reward given by the Prime Minister largely to his friends” (Jean-François Fortin). Consequently, the Bloc Québécois believes that the Senate has become a partisan place, where the Prime Minister just appoints his friends to have a majority.

 

Also, the Bloc asserts that the democratic Canadian government can do without a Senate. According to the party, most the work is done by the Members of Parliament, who are elected by the people; to the Bloc, the Senate is a group that simply “double checks” the bills handed to them. The Bloc, along with numerous Quebeckers, believes it is wasteful to spend a large amount of money on 105 senators whose major work is to double check.

 

The initial and final position of the Bloc Québécois on the issue of Senate Reform is constant – the Senate should be abolished. The Senate is not only pointless to have along with the Parliament, but it is also inefficient to spend a huge amount of money on 105 Senators, whose presence is not crucial to the country.

 

Works Cited:

"Debates of Nov. 22nd, 2011." André Bellavance, "Senate Reform Act" on Nov. 22nd, 2011. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. <http://openparliament.ca/debates/2011/11/22/andre-bellavance-1/>.

"Debates of Dec. 8th, 2011." Jean-François Fortin, "Senate Reform Act" on Dec. 8th, 2011. Web. 2 Mar. 2015. <http://openparliament.ca/debates/2011/12/8/jean-francois-fortin-1/>.