It states that an amendment to Canada’s Constitution: • requires the approval of at least two thirds of the provinces having at least 50% of the total provincial population (the “7/50” procedure); • requires the approval of the House of Commons and the Senate (although the Senate’s approval can be dispensed with after six months if the House of Commons reaffirms its approval); • requires the appro [...] The character of the Senate was determined by the British Parliament in response to the proposals submitted by the three provinces in order to meet the requirement of the proposed federal system. [...] During the 1960s and 1970s, the emphasis was on the rehabilitation of the appointed Senate, by means of some degree of provincial involvement in the appointment of senators. [...] Furthermore, Bill C-20 set out in detail the procedure for “electing” Senate nominees, making reference to several substantive provisions of the Canada Elections Act, and included provisions regarding the selection of nominees, the conduct of the consultation, advertising and the financial administration of the elections. [...] Given this historical context and the recent developments in the UK concerning reform of the House of Lords, the current debate in the UK and the various proposals for reform of the House of Lords have particular relevance to Senate reform in Canada.
- Pages
- 56
- Published in
- Canada
