OTTAWA - Perhaps the strongest case for that can be made for Senate reform in Canada is simply one of common sense - the principles of democracy would suggest that these political officials ought to be elected just as our MPs are. In fact, there are numerous reasons to reform the Senate, while there are relatively few reasons to keep it the way it is. Unfortunately, this issue has been brushed aside by politicians for quite some time, clearing the way to pursue more enticing, headline grabbing policies.

It seems, however, that the federal government may soon have the momentum to bring this issue back to the political fore. If there is one thing that Canadians are particularly sensitive to these days it is wasted money. Perhaps it is because so many Canadians and their families have suffered through the recession themselves, or perhaps it is just the cyclical nature of our citizens' eagerness for transparency.

You may recall the fervour with which Canadians demanded greater accountability following the well-publicized sponsorship scandal. Similar energies were shown following the revelations of spending improprieties around eHealth in Ontario and the B.C. Rail scandal in British Columbia. Our Senate could be the next big issue - its enormous expense, ineffectiveness, and anti-democratic underpinnings will certainly be a part of this coming discussion.

Scandal, however, will play a big part too.

Senators are remarkably well paid for the task they perform. It would be a difficult task to uncover a job with fewer performance requirements and a more generous benefits, perks, and pension system. Of course, our elected MPs receive similar privileges, yet there is one central difference - they must face performance evaluations in the form of elections.

Non-sitting Senators, however, are apparently entitled to continue receiving their lavish benefits and racking up expenses on the taxpayers' dime. This is even the case for Senators who have been banned from the Senate.

This is precisely the case with the Liberal Senator Raymond Lavigne - who has been barred from the Senate since 2007 and is currently facing fraud and breach of trust charges. In only three months last year, Mr. Lavigne accumulated more than $30,000 in expenses - including more than $17,000 on office equipment and approximately $8,500 on travel.

It is difficult to imagine any conceivable benefit to the Canadian people from these expenses, which is the only reason such expenses can ever be justified. As a non-sitting Senator, does Mr. Lavigne even need an office to supply with equipment? Without a vote in the Senate, does he even have cause to host/greet anyone on behalf of the Senate, or under the auspices of public service?

Conservative Senator Marjory LeBreton has moved to change Senate procedures and policy, which will prevent such abuses in the future - but even such a modest change to Senate custom is a difficult task. Thankfully, these efforts will likely be bolstered by angry citizens demanding more sweeping reforms. Once the ball is rolling, it will be our task to keep it rolling.