W5 Probes a Question on the Minds of Many Canadians: Is it Time to Get Rid of the Senate? Saturday on CTV

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TORONTO (October 3, 2013) – This Saturday W5 turns the spotlight on the Canadian Senate, which has spent the last few months in the headlines for alleged spending violations by some Senators. As W5 host and chief correspondent Lloyd Robertson reports, Canadians are now questioning the very existence of the chamber of “sober second thought.” And W5 discovers that Canadians are not alone in questioning the existence of the Upper House. Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV

In “KILL THE SENATE?,” premiering Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. ET on CTV, Robertson travels to Ireland where anger with the Irish Senate has led to a referendum on abolition. In the streets of Dublin, inside the halls of government, and in local pubs, Robertson meets forces from the Yes side, in favour of abolition, and the No side, who want to keep the Seanad, Ireland’s Upper House. The Irish debate is eerily similar to what is being said about Canada’s Senate. W5 interviews Canadian Senators who believe a similar referendum should be held on the future of the Red Chamber in this country.

The Canadian Senate sat for only 88 days last year, with Senators earning a base salary of $135,000 per year. W5 attempts to discover what Senators actually accomplished the rest of the year. There is committee work and preparation for the next session of Parliament but, as W5 discovers, many Senators are reluctant or outright refuse to provide information about the work they are doing. A survey of 99 current Senators (there are six vacancies) were asked for their public schedules for the month of September. Two thirds of all Senators refused to provide any details, with some outright dismissive of any request for information.

Also in this episode, W5’s Victor Malarek investigates the shooting death of a Canadian war veteran – not on the battlefield, but in British Columbia – by members of an RCMP Emergency Response Team.

In “THE WAR ZONE”, W5 recounts the story of Greg Matters, a veteran peacekeeper who had served in Bosnia during the war there, and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Matters was shot by the RCMP in 2012, following a standoff. A minor family dispute spun out of control as the Mounties laid siege to the farm where Matters lived. Officers believed Matters had firearms. He didn’t. Attempts by family, his psychiatrist, and a neighbour to negotiate a peaceful end were rebuffed by the RCMP. Surrounded by ERT members in camouflage, with an RCMP helicopter overhead, Matters came out of a cabin on his property wielding a hatchet and was shot to death.

While the Mounties were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by B.C.’s civilian oversight agency, the Independent Investigations Office questioned the RCMP’s actions and tactical decisions. In advance of an inquest into Matters’ death, due to begin in Prince George, B.C. next week, W5 pieces together the tragic moments that turned Matters peaceful farmland into a killing ground. The report searches for answers and accountability from the RCMP for opening fire on a former Canadian soldier struggling with the long-term psychological effects of war after allowing a minor incident to escalate.

W5 also airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET on CTV Two, and can be seen on Investigation Discovery on Tuesdays at 11 p.m. ET, and Wednesdays 12 noon ET; on demand at CTVNews.ca/W5; the CTV App, the CTV Mobile channel on Bell Mobile TV, and through video on demand partners, such as Bell Fibe TV (visit CTV.ca for local listings). W5 is also simulcast in Toronto on CFRB NEWSTALK1010.

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About W5

With an ongoing commitment to covering tough, relevant stories with fair and responsible reporting, W5 is in its 48th season of investigative journalism. Hosted by CTV NATIONAL NEWS’ Lloyd Robertson, the award-winning series is the most-watched documentary program in Canada. Anton Koschany is Executive Producer of W5. Brett Mitchell is Senior Producer. Wendy Freeman is President, CTV News.

About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 12 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at ctv.ca.

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Julie MacFarlane, Bell Media, 416.384.4623 or julie.macfarlane@bellmedia.ca