Discussions

Yes Duffy is a pig at the public trough. The problem is and the crown knew it is he did not break the law. To break the law.there would of had to of been rules to senate expenses and I reality there were none. The cbc acting as the liberal party hacks went after Duffy and Wallen enen though liberal senators took more but we're ignored by the press because the goal was to smear the conservative well mission accomplished. Same as with gomeshi after a trial the e idence comes up wanting because the witch hunt and prejudging guilty u til proven inocent is not how the system is designed. So tell me how sunny days transparency justin is going to stop the pig trough he won't even force his minister of justice to play by the rules he set out

I bet you all those old senators are getting ready to send in their expense claims. Seeing their are no rules they will be like pigs to the trough and the judge has told them that. Only way to solve this is to abolish the senate.

needs to change the spending rules for the Senators! Quickly!  
 
I wonder if those senators that paid some money back will ask for it back? lol  
 
I guess Brazeau is off the hook now.

Wonder who is responsible for Duffy's legal bills? They could be enough to financially ruin him.  
Or will they just quiely get paid by someone......

The Senate needs to be eliminated period. They are not elected so they are not responsible to the tax payer.they really have no purpose except to spend tax payer money. Abolish the Senate.

Black Star said "The Senate needs to be eliminated period. They are not elected so they are not responsible to the tax payer.they really have no purpose except to spend tax payer money. Abolish the Senate. "

Duffy's ruling, unbelievable, but he is a senator!

While the judge said Duffy's actions were anything but honourable, they were not illegal under the law. And it isn't against the law for being greedy and less than honourable.  
 
What the judge DID say was any actual crimes committed were done so by the PMO - The Prime Ministers Office, led by Nigel Wright. In fact, the judge asked how it was possible to charge Duffy with accepting a bribe ($90,0000) and nor the one who offered the bribe - Wright.  
 
He also questioned why the Crown did not call any witnesses to rebuff ANY of Duffy's statements of defence: and laid bare the inept, ridiculously flawed "investigation" by the RCMP.  
 
You mat find this decuision frustrating, but it was the right one. Duffy was being railroaded by the most powerful people in Canada, and our justice system prevailed. Amd tha's good.

Suggesting Duffy was hard done by is a stretch. He knew his expenses were questionable but he thought he could get away with it and he did.  
Everyone knows his actions don't pass the smell test but honouring the taxpayer seems to be optional.

Do you know how difficult it is to the abolish the Senate with the Canadian Constitution as it stands and has stood for many years? This may impact you more than you know.  
 
With the Constitution, abolishing the Senate requires the assent of Parliament plus agreement of all 10 provinces. It’s never, but near-impossible. And it can’t be abolished by allowing vacancies to pile up. Even lesser reforms, such as making the Senate an elected body or limiting senators’ terms, needs the support of Parliament plus seven provinces with half the country’s population.  
 
It's not like just flicking the light off and saying "No more Senate." It would take many years, $$$, and energy and a major political push to have some Provinces (ie:Quebec) to agree and it may never happen.  
 
No matter what political party is or was in power, it would take enormous energy and money to start changing the constitution of Canada that has been there for many years. It's not just about shutting it off.  
 
Many want it abolished but it's a challenging task. Better reform as it stands now than taxpayers paying for years to have the senate abolished through the Canadian Constitution.  
 
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/12/03/trudeaus-plan-for-senate-reform-goes-in-right-direction-editorial.html  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Maybe a compromise instead of abolishing the senate as Kellye suggest would not be easy, then change it so they are elected instead of appointed.

thecdnmole said "Maybe a compromise instead of abolishing the senate as Kellye suggest would not be easy, then change it so they are elected instead of appointed. "

According to the Canadian Constitution, an elected senate would still need the support of Parliament plus 7 provinces with half the country's population. Can you imagine the $$$ and energy devoted to something like this when there are so many more pressing day-to-day Canadian issues that elected officials are elected to concentrate on?  
 
If that was taken on, there would be many unhappy, MORE tax burdened citizens having to foot the bill for such a long term, complicated process.  
 
I too wish the Senate was abolished, but it's complex. I'll take the non-partisan reform for now. Just my thoughts.  
 

Innocent until proven guilty. He was not guilty as charges thrown out, and judge said in his statement prosecution was a disgrace.

Is that his trial exposed the lack of rules to govern the expenses of the senate. One would hope that the senate being in place as part of the constitution that rules would be pretty well figured out by now? The real question is who should loose their job from the government and what is being done to clean up the rule book. The big one is that there were people that signed off and paid these expenses on behalf government ( your tax dollars)  
 
In the end what other expenses are being approved and paid with your tax dollars that would never be allowed in a private business.