NDP unveil “Hall of Shame” senator cards

VIA Twitter

CALGARY - The federal NDP is immortalizing members of the current Senate.

The party has released a set of 99 Ottawa senator hockey cards as part of the "Senate Hall of Shame."

"We think these playing cards that don't come with gum but come with a lot of information will become really popular on the streets of Canada in the coming weeks," said Peter Julian, the NDP Member of Parliament for Burnaby-New Westminster who was in Calgary to observe the Conservative policy convention.

"We're actually giving them away because we think Canadians should know more about their senators. The more they know about Conservative and Liberal senators I think the more likely Canadians are going to join with the NDP to abolish the senate."

The tongue-in-cheek cards include a photo of the senator with party affiliation and career stats.

It lists both the appointment and scheduled retirement date and the total estimated cost to Canadians based on the amount of salary and office expenses the senators would get during their time in public office.

There's also a brief bio.

"Long-time journalist turned consul general Pamela Wallin was appointed to the Senate in the Class of '08. This theoretical senator from Saskatchewan really lives in Toronto, when she isn't crossing the country campaigning on the taxpayer's dime," reads the card.

The total cost to taxpayers was listed at $3,257,425.

Mike Duffy's cost was $1,853,381.

"This former journalist scored the scoop of a lifetime when Stephen Harper appointed him in 2008. He was a constant on the Conservative fundraising circuit, but one place you won't find him much is in Prince Edward Island, the province he claims to represent," the card said.

One of the biggest pricetags is attributed to the third senator that the Conservatives are trying to suspend without pay for past indiscretions.

Patrick Brazeau's total bill comes to $7,981,274, according to the NDP.

"The youngest current Senator got expelled from the Conservative caucus after being appointed by Harper four years earlier. He got caught making false claims abut his primary residence, and was charged with sexual assault in the same year," the card said.

The cards also single out Duffy in where he represents as "Prince Edward Island???" and Wallin for representing "Saskatchewan/Toronto/New York???".

"Each one has a bio and what they've done for their claim to fame or their claim to the Hall of Shame," said Julian, who was attending a rally attending by union members, First Nations, and social groups across the street from the venue for the Conservative convention.

Hundreds of the cards are initially being printed but Julian said thousands will be added if the demand is there.