Tom Mulcair says Stephen Harper 'threw in the towel' in bid to reform Senate

NDP LeaderTom Mulcair, who has promised to work to abolish the Senate if elected prime minister, accusesStephen Harper of abandoning his fight to either reform or scrap the Red Chamber.

Mulcair'scomments are part ofan exclusive wide-ranging interview withCBC chiefcorrespondent Peter Mansbridge airing Wednesdayevening onThe National.

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Mansbridge askedMulcairhow an NDP governmentwould get legislation passed through theSenate, since ithas no members affiliated with the party.

"Well the Senate is going to have to realize that there's a government that's just been elected with I would hope a majority in the House of Commons," Mulcair said."And when that legislation is enacted, or at least adopted by the people who have been put there by Canadian voters, they're going to be given the legislation and asked to pass it in turn so that it can be promulgated into law in the country."

But Mulcairsaid the NDP would not name any senators to vacant seats, saying the partycan't go against itsfundamental belief.

He also chastised Harper, saying he had talked a good game aboutSenate abolition, but then gaveup the effort.Last year, the Supreme Court put a damper on Harper's plans forSenate reform,rulingthat the federal government needsthe support of sevenprovinces representing half the population to implementfixed terms or provincial elections for Senate candidates. The government would need unanimous provincialsupport to abolish theSenate altogether.

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"I called him after the Supreme Court decision and I said, 'Are you going to make me do this alone?' It was a light-hearted conversation, but I was really surprised, because he immediately threw in the towel after having gotten elected on a promise to either profoundly reform the Senate or get rid of it," Mulcair said."And he was doing neither."

The interview can be seen Wednesday night onThe Nationalat9 p.m. ET onCBC News Network, andat 10 p.m./10:30 NT on CBC-TV. It is the thirdof four interviews with the federal leaders airing this weekread more about theinterviews here.