Published by Senator Claudette Tardif on 31 January 2010
Re: Let Senate do its job, Letters Jan. 27 (Edmonton Journal)
I would like to refute Edmonton-Centre MP Laurie Hawn's comments regarding the Senate.
I find it ironic that the Conservative government, who accused Liberal senators of stalling legislation, effectively accomplished what they were accusing us of doing by proroguing Parliament until March.
Contrary to what Mr. Hawn and his caucus colleagues might claim, senators were hard at work this past Parliamentary session passing 34 government bills, ranging from limiting credit for time spent in pre-sentencing custody to changes to the Tobacco Act aimed at protecting children. Of the bills that were passed, all were studied in Senate committees, and when needed amendments were proposed.
The role of the Senate is not to rubber-stamp legislation that is sent from the House of Commons, it is to effectively study and review legislation to ensure that it is in the best interest of all Canadians.
Furthermore, I disagree with Mr. Hawn's comment that "much of the legislation that will be re-introduced has already passed the House of Commons once."
In fact, of the 36 bills that were lost as a direct result of prorogation, only 5 bills have been passed by the House of Commons and sent to the Senate; the other bills were still before the House of Commons (27) or originated in the Senate (4).
Canadians have made it clear that they want Parliament to work. While Mr. Hawn and other members of the Conservative caucus might accuse senators of not doing their job, I can proudly say that this is not the case.
The Honourable Claudette Tardif. deputy leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator for Alberta