SASKATOON – Saskatchewan Party members have supported Premier Brad Wall, voting overwhelming in favour of abolishing the Senate.
In May, Wall spoke out, saying although he had been a long-time advocate of Senate reform, he now felt the time had come to do away with the Senate.
“For a long time, many Saskatchewan people, myself included, wanted to see meaningful reform to create Senate that is elected, effective and equal,” said Wall in a press release.
“It is now painfully clear that’s never going to happen, and we continue to have a Senate that is unelected, unaccountable and unnecessary, and that costs Canadian taxpayers nearly a hundred million dollars a year.”
The remarks came after a series of spending scandals rocked the Senate.
At the time, Wall said his thoughts were his own and he would turn to party members for their input on the issue.
Party members have spoken, voting 86 per cent in favour of abolishing the Senate in a mail-in referendum.
The Sask. Party had previously defeated a resolution to abolish the Senate at its convention last fall.
Wall will now consider moving a constitution amendment motion this fall in the legislature.
If he moves forward with the motion, he may find support from the provincial NDP.
Cam Broten, leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, has stated he plans to introduce a motion this fall to repeal the Senate Nominee Election Act.
Broten said repealing the act would take the legal reference of the Senate off the books to clear the path to abolish the upper house.
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