With some senators embroiled in an expense scandal, Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer said more reforms are needed in Parliament's upper house.
"We want to make that place functional and part of the system," Zimmer said Wednesday in a phone interview from Ottawa.
A recent audit found three senators - Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Mac Harb - claimed ineligible housing expenses. Meanwhile an audit is ongoing surrounding Senator Pamela Wallin's travel expenses.
It was Duffy's case that irked Zimmer in particular. The senator who represents Prince Edward Island was found to have wrongly claimed $90,000 in expenses for his Ottawa home and then repaid the money after receiving a personal cheque from Nigel Wright, then the chief of staff for Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
"The $90,000 was an issue that people were concerned about, with an inaccurate claim that was made," Zimmer said. "But I think the other concern was the $90,000 cheque to cover it. I think most Canadians are concerned with that."
Duffy, who was appointed by Harper, has since left the Conservative caucus to sit as an independent. Wright has also resigned from his position in the Prime Minister's Office.
Zimmer, who campaigned on Senate reform, would like to see the provincial government in B.C. hold Senate elections. Currently Alberta is the only province to democratically elect senators-in-waiting.
"We need a provincial law that says we are going to elect senators," Zimmer said. "That's where I would like to see it go."
The federal government has asked the Supreme Court to rule on what changes can be made to the Senate without re-opening the Constitution and Zimmer said he's awaiting that decision.
When it comes to punishing those who break the rules, Zimmer said a distinction must be made between an inadvertent mistake in filing claims and someone who deliberately puts misleading information on their expense forms.
"I think you need to treat those different and proceed with caution," he said.
Although ongoing scandals have tarnished the image of the Senate, Zimmer said he's worked closely with a number of senators who do good work. In particular he highlighted British Columbia Conservative Senator Nancy Greene Raine's contribution to the government.
"One apple can spoil the bunch and I certainly don't think it should reflect on all the senators that do a good job," he said. "I think people need to understand that there are some that work hard."
- See related editorial on page 6
