Audit, trial show Senate corrupt

Re: Seven retired senators may face litigation, April 23

The seven retired senators who got caught with their hands in the cookie jar according to the auditor’s report should repay the approximately $500,000 of misspent taxpayers’ money they diverted to unauthorized expenses. That includes former B.C. Conservative Sen. Gerry St. Germain for flying staff members to his anniversary party. After over 30 years feeding at the public trough as an MP and senator appointed by his pal, Brian Mulroney, and now guaranteed a gold-plated pension for life, you would think St. Germain would want to mend his miscreant ways. Derek Wiens, Abbotsford

The Mike Duffy trial provided Canadians more information about the corruption of the antiquated Senate than Duffy’s own actions.

The trial revealed all senators falsified reports, hindered officials obtaining information, and lied throughout the information-gathering process.

Instead of creating another bureaucracy to advise the prime minister on Senate appointments, the Liberal government could stop appointing more senators and let the Senate wither away, painlessly, for everyone’s benefit. Bryan Stephenson, Chilliwack