Harper Government Drives Senate Reform Agenda

April 27, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario

(Ottawa) The Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), along with Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu today encouraged provinces to establish a democratic process for selecting senators so Canadian voters can have a say on who represents them in the Senate.

“Canadians have been clear they want a modern, accountable and elected Senate” said Minister of State Fletcher. “Prime Minister Harper and this government are committed to a democratic Senate, elected by the voters.”

The Senatorial Selection Act, introduced in the Senate today, provides a voluntary framework for provinces to implement a democratic process where voters elect nominees for the Senate. While it does not require the provinces to enact such processes, it underscores the Government’s support for provinces that choose to do so. The Prime Minister commits to consider recommended names from a list of elected Senate nominees put forward by provinces that conduct a consultation process.

“Our Government believes Canadians should have a say in who represents them in the Senate,” said Senator Boisvenu. “The Prime Minister appointed the only elected senator currently sitting in the Senate and will continue to appoint senators chosen through democratic selection processes.”

The voluntary framework is based on the model established by Alberta, which has resulted in two appointments to the Senate: Senator Stan Waters in 1990 and Senator Bert Brown in 2007.

Minister of State Fletcher and Senator Boisvenu were joined by Senator Bert Brown and Senator Bob Runciman.

“I am proud that our Government is the first in 143 years to offer Canadians the right to choose who represents them in the Senate,” said Senator Brown. “This bill represents an important step forward for Canadian democracy and constitutes a milestone in modernizing and reforming our Parliament.

“The Senate has an important role in our parliamentary system and its members perform valuable work. But it has a credibility problem that is linked directly to its method of selection. People want, and expect, their representatives to be chosen democratically,” added Senator Runciman.

The bill is consistent with the Government’s incremental approach to Senate reform and the desire to implement a procedure to consult Canadians on their preferences for Senate nominees. 

For more information, please contact:

Jessica Georgakopoulos
Office of the Minister of State (Democratic Reform)
613-943-6975

Backgrounder
Senatorial Selection Act

In the March 3, 2010 Speech from the Throne, the Government stated that it remains committed to Senate reform and will continue to pursue measures to make the upper chamber more democratic, effective and accountable. Accordingly, the Government has introduced the Senatorial Selection Act in the Senate. The Act would provide a framework for provinces to elect Senate nominees and will require the Prime Minister to consider the names submitted by provinces as a result of selection processes.

General Framework

The Government has encouraged provinces to implement a democratic process for the selection of Senate nominees. This Act would codify this approach. It would not require provinces to implement consultation processes but would strongly encourage them to do so. It also demonstrates support for those provinces that have already undertaken legislation to establish such democratic processes.

The Act includes a voluntary schedule, based on Alberta’s Senatorial Selection Act, which would set out a basis for provinces to enact democratic processes.

The Act would not be binding on the Prime Minister or the Governor General when making appointments to the Senate. However, it would require the Prime Minister to consider the recommended names from a list of elected Senate nominees when recommending Senate appointments.

Current Appointment Method for Senators

Senators are currently summoned by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, pursuant to section 24 of the Constitution Act, 1867: “The Governor General shall from Time to Time, in the Queen’s Name, by Instrument of the Great Seal of Canada, summon Qualified Persons to the Senate.”

This bill would not change how senators are selected. Rather, it proposes a method to give voters a say on who should be selected to hold a position in the Senate. Appointments to the Senate would continue to be made by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, pursuant to section 24 of the Constitution Act, 1867.