Five New Conservative Senators, come on down!

Five new Conservatives have received the golden handshake from Stephen Harper. The unelected and unaccountable Senators will collect a total of $661,500 next year in salary, not to mention costs for assistants and free travel in Canada.

Senators Doug Black, Victor Oh, Lynn Beyak and David Wells have all contributed to the Conservative Party of Canada, which no doubt has nothing to do with their appointments.

Certainly none of them have ever said anything in the past against gold plated salaries for politicians, or have demanded restraint, have they?

Oh wait, here’s Lynn Beyak, who testified in favour of the Fewer Politicians Act at the Standing Committee on General Government of the Ontario Legislature, November 21, 1996:

“Along with our constituents I am pleased to see that our government has scrapped MPPs' gold-plated pension plans and tax-free allowances and reduced their own pay by 5%. In addition they appointed the smallest cabinet in 30 years.”

And who could forget the previous promises from the Prime Minister?

"An appointed Senate is a relic of the 19th Century" – Stephen Harper, December 14, 2005 “I will not name appointed people to the Senate. Anyone who sits in the Parliament of Canada must be elected by the people they represent.” – Stephen Harper, March 14, 2004

As Parliament returns Conservatives are once again on the defensive, plagued by scandals, ethical lapses and mismanagement.

Canadians deserve better.