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The NL breakdown is live! There is still just enough time to learn about the issues. More than enough if they postpone the election...
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The Senate

Updated on August 13, 2015

Synopsis

There have been numerous attempts to reform the Senate throughout Canadian history, although the federal government is not capable of legislating these changes alone. Reform would require a constitutional amendment, which historically has been a very difficult process. Most recently in 2014, the Supreme Court of Canada issued an advisory opinion that, due to the Senate being enshrined in the Constitution, any changes would require constitutional amendment. In their opinion, the judges indicated that at least seven provinces, with half or more of Canada’s population, would be needed in order to pass structural reforms and that the consent of all provinces would be required for abolition. Presently, provincial governments in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and New Brunswick have indicated they are interested or open to Senate reform but are opposed to abolition. They view the regional representation inherent in the Senate as being essential for preserving provincial balance and giving the provinces a voice in national institutions. British Columbia and Ontario have indicated interest in reform as well, though have placed little emphasis on the issue. Alberta has not made its position clear on Senate reform or abolition. The governments of Saskatchewan and Manitoba favour abolition of the Senate.
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  • Supports reform of the Senate, and attempted reforms in 2006 and 2014 aimed at making the Senate more democratic by electing Senators and imposing term limits. The Liberal-dominated Senate blocked these attempts, indicating that the proposals would require a Constitutional amendment, and then in 2014 by a Supreme Court advisory opinion which indicated that such plans would require a constitutional amendment (1, 2, 4, 8)

  • Believes that any new attempt to reform the Senate should come from the provinces as their support would be required for it to pass (3, 4)

  • Pledged not to appoint any new Senators until the Senate is reformed in an attempt to reduce costs and place pressure on provinces to create a plan to update the institution; currently, 22 of 105 seats are vacant and it has been two and a half years since the last appointment (2, 3)

  • Promised to not appoint any Senators during the 2006 election, though 59 have been appointed since 2008, when the Conservative government needed more Senators to ensure Conservative legislation would pass the Upper House—though they continued to appoint Senators after this point (6, 7, 22)

  • Appointed four Senators who had previously been elected by citizens in the province of Alberta (5)


  • Wants to abolish the Senate and is seeking a mandate from Canadians to do so in this election (9, 10)

  • Has pledged to keep trying for Senate abolition despite provincial governments’ opposition and has promised to work with the provinces to ensure that it happens (11)

  • Put forth a motion to end partisan activities in the Senate in 2013, which was defeated by the Conservative and Liberal parties (12)


  • Wants to reform the Senate to make the chamber a place of sober, second thought, and for reflective analysis on legislation as it was intended to be (13, 14)

  • Pledges to introduce an open, non-partisan, and merit-based process of appointing Senators that respects provincial interests (15, 17)

  • Ejected Senators from the Liberal caucus, allowing them to sit as independents with no formal ties to Liberal parliamentary machinery, to make them more independent and less partisan (14, 16)

  • Believes that promising to abolish the Senate is reckless as it would require the support of some provinces that will never agree to it, and will seek reform without the need of a constitutional amendment (9, 15)


  • Pledges to create a nonpartisan commission to speak with Canadians to create a constitutional reform proposal for a new Senate during the next Parliament, which would then be put forward as a national referendum asking if Canadians want the Senate reformed or abolished (17, 18)

  • Will hold a national referendum on Senate reform to determine how to proceed with the possibility of electing Senators and changing regional distribution (17)

  • Supports the implementation of a proportional representation system to elect Senators (19)

  • Believes the Conservative decision to stop appointing Senators is unconstitutional (20, 21)

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References

  1. CBC
  2. CBC
  3. CBC
  4. National Post
  5. CBC
  6. Macleans
  7. NDP website
  8. CTV
  9. CBC
  10. NDP website
  11. CBC
  12. CBC
  13. CBC
  14. CBC
  15. CBC
  16. CBC
  17. Macleans
  18. Green website
  19. Green website
  20. Green website
  21. CTV
  22. The Globe and Mail
Posted in Law and Domestic Affairs | Tagged fed2015
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I CAN Party is created and maintained by a team of interested citizens and does not have ties to any political parties. Research is conducted by our team of contributors, and though we strive at all times to provide the most accurate information possible, our website may contain inaccuracies. The site has received donations from individuals, who do so on the condition of having no editorial oversight, but does not receive any formal funding or investment. Copyright 2019 I CAN Party.

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