TOSS SCOUNDRELS

Your bold headline on Aug. 14 quotes Senator Dave Tkachuk saying, “We can’t throw the rascals out.” Unfortunately, without any context, this quote on its own leaves the reader with the wrong impression that the Senate itself cannot act when improprieties occur.

Perhaps Tkachuk made the remark in the context that not enough evidence has been found to throw out Patrick Brazeau, Mike Duffy, Mac Harb and Pamela Wallin from the Senate. Perhaps he meant this remark in the context that everyone, even a senator, is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

I agree that rascals (persons who are mischievous) should not be thrown out. But what about scoundrels (persons who are dishonest or unscrupulous)? Are the senators currently under scrutiny mischievous or dishonest? Who should make that judgment — the public, the courts or the Senate itself ?

It has been suggested that holding elections for senators will fix the problem of getting rid of unscrupulous ones. Elections will give the public a say in selecting senators, but it won’t give voters a say in getting rid of senators, at least until the next election.

According to section 19 of the Parliament of Canada Act and section 15 of the Senate Rules, the Senate can make judgments and take a variety of actions against members who have been deemed to have acted improperly. These actions range from salary deductions to declaring a senator’s seat vacant. Apparently, we senators can throw scoundrels out, after due process. Lillian Eva Dyck Saskatchewan Senator Saskatoon