The control freak has lost control. Stephen Harper created this Senate mess, and now it’s time to pay the piper.

When he spoke on April 20, 2006 in Montreal,  the newly elected prime minister promised to do politics differently.

“Gone will be the days of dark little secrets, of hidden treasures, of kickbacks to friends or party coffers, and of brown envelopes,” said Harper. “We’re going to put an end to the culture of entitlement, and replace it with a culture centered on accountability. “

Then, in Sept. of that same year, he spoke before a Special Senate Committee on Senate Reform.

"Years of delay on Senate reform must come to an end, and it will,” he said. “For the Senate must change and we intend to make it happen."

But, where is this culture of accountability? What we have now is culture of lies, cover up, and deceit.

Most right-thinking people believe the Senate should be put out of its misery -- it has become a retirement home for party friends, defeated candidates, and bagmen.

The three senators at the centre of this should indeed face a proper hearing -- bBut, now they are subject to a witch hunt directed by the Prime Minister’s office where they are being judged without due process.

What we need to know is whether it was a cover up, or plain incompetence from the prime minister in not knowing what his own staff was doing.

The confluence of events has created a perfect storm for a prime minister whose motto should be “do as I say, not as I do.”

PQ leader Pauline Marois didn’t have the numbers and she knew it, which is why we will not be heading into a provincial campaign next month.

The good news is that we are spared a pre-Christmas election, and probably spared an election based mostly on values.

It will also give Dr Phil more time to get used to his new job and to take the seat of Viau.  He needs to get in the game and the time to work on his fast ball. 

 The bad news is that we are stuck with the PQ for a while yet. How much more damage can they do?   

 I have learned never to overestimate their ability, nor underestimate their capacity for mischief and deception.

Well, we will have a new mayor Sunday night.

And, some of the most important issues have hardly been touched. 

Montreal is simply over-governed with over 100 city and borough councilors.   We have level upon level of administration, and it’s costly.  One councilor from the Plateau makes 137 thousand dollars plus another 15 thousand in expenses. No one seems willing to kill the goose that lays those golden eggs. 

Secondly, do you know why your property taxes rise so much every year?

It’s because of Montreal’s gold-plated pension plan for municipal workers who now retire at 55.   It cost taxpayers three quarters of a billion dollars last year.  We can’t afford it, and unless something is done, Montreal will move closer and closer to Detroit.  It is literally sucking the lifeblood out of the city.

We need someone with the guts to address the tough issues.

We need someone who will stand up to Quebec City, someone who will put Montreal first and not be afraid of tackling entitlements and acquired rights.  We need someone who can tell the entire world that they are welcome here. 

Most of all, we need someone who can restore dignity to a once great city.  The choice is yours