PM says unelected senators have no business rewriting federal budget
OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau reminded senators Friday that they’re unelected and have no business rewriting a federal budget passed by the elected House of Commons.
The prime minister said he respects the role senators play in providing sober second thought to legislation.
Indeed, having instigated a new appointment process aimed at making the Senate more independent and less partisan, Trudeau said he actually encourages senators to scrutinize legislation and recommend improvements.
But he drew a line at the government’s budget implementation bill, as senators debate whether to hive off the portion of it that deals with creation of a new infrastructure bank.