Senate of Canada

Senate of Canada
Name	Senate
Native name	Sénat du Canada
Legislature	Parliament of Canada
House type	Upper house
Body	Parliament of Canada
Leader1 type	Speaker of the Senate
Leader1	Raymonde Gagné
Election1	2023
Leader2 type	Government Representative in the Senate
Leader2	Marc Gold
Election2	2020
Leader3 type	Opposition Leader in the Senate
Leader3	Don Plett
Election3	2019
Members	105
Political groups1	• Independent Senators Group (39), • Canadian Senators Group (15), • Progressive Senate Group (14), • Non-affiliated (12), • Vacant (25)
Term length	Up to age 75
Voting system	Appointment by the Governor General on advice of the Prime Minister
Meeting place	Senate Chamber, Centre Block, Parliament Hill, Ottawa
Website	https://sencanada.ca/

Senate of Canada. The upper house of the Parliament of Canada, it is a key institution of the Canadian federal legislature. Modeled after the British House of Lords, it provides sober second thought on legislation passed by the House of Commons. Its members are appointed to represent Canada's regions, provinces, and territories.

History and evolution

The chamber was established by the Constitution Act, 1867, as part of the Canadian Confederation compromise between larger and smaller provinces. Its original design was influenced by the British Parliament and the United States Senate. Early senators were often prominent figures from the political and business elite, such as Sir John A. Macdonald's colleague Sir George-Étienne Cartier. The Constitution Act, 1982 entrenched certain aspects of its existence and composition. Significant evolution began with the Pearson government's mandatory retirement age and continued with the Charlottetown Accord debate. The modern era of non-partisan appointments was initiated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2014, fundamentally altering its dynamic.

Composition and appointment

Comprising 105 members, seats are allocated by region: Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and the Western provinces each have 24, while Newfoundland and Labrador has 6, and the three territories—Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and Yukon—have one each. Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and must be at least 30 years old, own property, and reside in the province they represent. They serve until the mandatory retirement age of 75. Since 2016, an Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments recommends candidates based on merit, leading to a chamber dominated by the Independent Senators Group rather than traditional party caucuses.

Powers and functions

The chamber possesses significant constitutional powers, nearly equal to those of the House of Commons, except it cannot introduce appropriation bills or money bills. It can reject, amend, or delay most legislation passed by the lower house. It also has the power to initiate legislation, except on financial matters, and conducts detailed reviews of government bills and public policy. It performs vital investigative work through its standing committees, such as the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance. Furthermore, it provides regional representation, balancing the population-based representation of the Commons.

Role in the legislative process

Most government legislation originates in the House of Commons. After passage there, bills are sent for review, where committees like the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs may hold hearings and propose amendments. The chamber often returns bills to the Commons with suggested changes, leading to parliamentary dialogue. While it rarely exercises its veto power outright, its scrutiny has led to significant amendments to laws concerning medical assistance in dying, national security, and environmental assessment. It also originates its own public bills, particularly on issues of social policy.

Reform and modernization efforts

Reform has been a persistent theme since the Meech Lake Accord and the Charlottetown Accord proposed changes to its appointment method. The Supreme Court's 2014 reference on Senate reform clarified that abolishing it would require unanimous provincial consent under the Constitution Act, 1982. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's removal of senators from the Liberal caucus in 2014 marked a major shift toward independence. Subsequent changes include public hearings for appointments, stricter residency requirements, and the creation of new parliamentary groups like the Canadian Senators Group. The Senate Administrative Rules have also been updated to reflect its less partisan nature.

Criticism and controversies

It has long faced criticism as an undemocratic, unelected body, a critique leveled by figures like former Premier of Alberta Ralph Klein. Scandals, such as the Canadian Senate expenses scandal involving senators Mike Duffy, Patrick Brazeau, and Pamela Wallin, fueled calls for abolition or major reform. Its power to delay legislation, as seen with bills like C-48, has sparked debates about its legitimacy in opposing the elected House of Commons. Furthermore, its regional representation formula is criticized for not reflecting modern demographic realities, giving over-representation to smaller provinces like Prince Edward Island.

Category:Parliament of Canada Category:National upper houses Category:1867 establishments in Canada