Idea alert

The NDP’s Pat Martin wants to defund the Senate.

In the midst of a growing debate about the effectiveness of Canada’s Senate, New Democrat MP Pat Martin has moved that the nearly $60,000,000 in Senate program spending included in the budget’s Main Estimates to be voted on tonight be rejected. ... “We might not be able to abolish the Senate without a constitutional amendment, but we can cut off its blood supply,” said Martin. “I’m sure Canadians would agree that this $59,490,350 could be put to better use than to offset the limited value of an unaccountable, unnecessary Senate.”