Five things Canadian should know about the Senate as an election approaches
Posted Jul 24, 2015 12:58:26 PM.
Last Updated Jul 24, 2015 01:40:07 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The issue of what to do with the Senate continues to pop onto the political radar in advance of the upcoming October election. It’s sure to flare up even more next month when Sen. Mike Duffy’s trial over dubious expense claims is set to resume. Here are five things to know about Canada’s so-called chamber of sober second thought:
THE SCANDALS: The Senate has been embroiled in scandal for about three years over allegations of improper housing and travel expense claims. Three senators were suspended over their expense claims — former Conservatives Patrick Brazeau, Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy — and a fourth, Liberal Mac Harb, resigned. Duffy, Brazeau and Harb have all been charged with fraud and breach of trust. Wallin has been under lengthy RCMP investigation but has not been charged.
THE COURT: The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in April 2014 that reforming the Senate would require a constitutional amendment approved by at least seven provinces with 50 per cent of the population while outright abolition would require the unanimous consent of the provinces. At the time, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the ruling meant Canada is stuck with the status quo since there’s no consensus among provinces on reforming or abolishing the Senate and no appetite to engage in protracted constitutional wrangling.
THE OPPOSITION: Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has proposed creating a blue-chip advisory body to recommend non-partisan nominees to the Senate, which he says could be done without re-opening the Constitution and which would restore the Senate to its intended role as an independent chamber. If elected prime minister, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair has promised to initiate constitutional talks with the provinces on abolishing the Senate.
THE EMPTY SEATS: There are currently 22 vacancies in the 105-seat chamber. Harper has not made an appointment in more than two years and is in no hurry to do so now. But the Supreme Court has warned that the Senate can not be abolished indirectly by allowing the number of senators to drop to zero. And a Vancouver lawyer has gone to court in a bid to compel Harper to fill Senate vacancies within a reasonable time.
THE COST: It costs almost $90 million a year to operate the Senate. That includes the salaries and allowances senators are paid, plus administrative costs. Compare that with the House of Commons, which operates on an annual budget of more than $427 million.
