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Originally Posted by Bownesian
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Great article. It also adds sense to why Harper chose to add to the Senate now. It sounds like he is planning for some changes and needs votes.
I agree with his central argument that such a Senate would cause a loss of power for the PM but, I'm not sure I agree with him that that is all that bad. Most of my life I've lived under federal governments who were elected despite the will of the people of the provinces I live in. They governed like that too. The interests of Quebec and Ontario became the only interests of the PM.
During that time and before it I also seen a expansion of power by the Fed into areas where it should be provincial jurisdiction. Health care is an example of this were the Federal government first takes out taxes then gives them back to the province as transfer payments with strings attached.
Personally I would like to see the Senate appointed by the provincial Premiers and given fixed 6 year terms upon appointment. They then can/should operate for the best interests of their country first and then their province. They should be a small group that levels some of the inbalances in Canada due to size of the Province. Perhaps 2 Senators from the smallest provinces and up to 4 for largest provinces (Quebec & Ontario). Premiers should stagger their appointments so no two Senators in one Province are replaced in the same year.
I wouldn't give the Senate the ability to completely reject legistation. A no vote from them could require Parliament to hold a free vote on the legistation or one that requires a larger percentage to pass. If the PM chose to hold the re-vote and it passed in Parliament it would be law. The Senate could also make recommended changes to the legistation which if the PM agreed could be passed with a simple majority vote. Budget votes should be exempt from Senate rejection.
If we are going to keep a Senate it makes sense to give them power. It also is senseless to have them represent the interests of the political party who appointed them, which is where they are at today. I would rather see them abolished then to remain useless. If the chamber was altered to give more voice to provincial concerns then it would become quite valuable.