Senate Expenses Up 70% Over Past 7 Years, Committee Finds

The Senate Chamber is seen in Ottawa on Feb. 18, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

The Senate’s annual budget has increased steadily over the past six years and is now about 70 percent higher than it was in 2016, senators heard during a budget committee meeting on Dec. 15.

“In 2016, when we decided to reform the Senate, that year our Senate expenses were just under $75 million,” said Sen. Don Plett, leader of the opposition in the Senate.

Plett pointed out to the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration that the Senate’s expenses over the past seven years have increased by $52 million at an annual rate.

“One may wonder if Canadians are getting 70 percent more out of the Senate than they did in 2016. I was here before 2016 and I’m here now, and I don’t think we are getting 70 percent more services,” Plett said, adding, “Things are not improving.”

On Dec. 15, senators endorsed another budget increase to almost $127 million a year, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

The committee was presented with a report from a Senate subcommittee on budgets and estimates detailing some reasons for increased expenses.

Sen. Scott Tannas, one of the subcommittee members answering questions on the report, said Senate activities, have increased over recent years, bringing added expenses.

“We have increased the number of committees that operate,” said Tannas, adding later, “We have asked our Senate administration to expand.”

Plett suggested that an efficiency review of Senate expenses should be conducted.

“You yourself, Senator Tannas, are a successful businessperson,” he said. “You wouldn’t accept this in your business. I don’t believe for one second that you would accept this in your business.”

Government Institution

Plett several times referred to the Senate as a “business” that needs to operate more efficiently, but Sen. Hassan Yussuff disagreed.

“We’re not a business, I’m sorry. We are a government institution,” said Yussuff. “I do want us to be a little bit sensitive to the men and women who serve us here because if they’re hearing this conversation, I wouldn’t be feeling too great.”

Yussuff added that one reason for increased Senate expenses over recent years could be equal pay for women as men.

“We’re going to have to pay women better than we’ve paid them in the past. There’s a cost associated with that,” he said.

Sen. Yvonne Boyer said the Senate needs to continue being more diverse and inclusive for minorities.

“I don’t want to see diversity fall off the table. I want that to be front and centre as we’re looking at all of these issues because the Senate has not been very friendly to indigenous people and racialized people,” Boyer said.

Plett concluded his remarks about the Senate’s increased expenses by saying that Senators, as public servants, have a “responsibility” to taxpayers.

“It’s not the [Senate] staff that has made us less efficient. It’s us that have made us less efficient.”