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The Democratic DilemmaReforming the Canadian Senate |
An in-depth examination of the Tory Senate reform proposal and what it means for government.
In 2006 Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government introduced two bills to reform the Senate: one to establish limited terms for senators, replacing the existing system of appointment until age 75 and the other to establish consultative elections for the Senate with the prime minister nominating the winners of the election. Both bills have been heard in the House of Commons and the Senate but neither bill has been enacted into law.
The government's initiatives are proving controversial for two reasons. One is the contents of the bills. The other is procedural and concerns the federal government's strategy of treating Senate reform as a matter for Parliament alone to determine - a matter of federal legislation rather than an amendment of the constitution.
Contributors examine all angles of the debate on Senate reform. They address the constitutionality of the proposals and bring to light features of the bills that have not yet been analyzed, assessing their significance for the conduct of a reformed chamber. They consider whether the objectives of the reformers are likely to be met by these proposals or whether the result will have unintended consequences. They demonstrate how complicated Senate reform is, full of unexpected twists and turns, and show that successful reform requires a deep understanding of the country's parliamentary system and culture and a delicate approach to institutional change.
Contributors include Jane Ajzenstat (McMaster University), Peter Aucoin (Dalhousie University), Louise Carbert (Dalhousie University), Don Desserud (University of New Brunswick in Saint John), Andrew Heard (Simon Fraser University), Tom Kent (Institute for Research on Public Policy and Queen's University), Stephen Michael MacLean (independent scholar), Lorna Marsden (York University), Vincent Pouliot (lawyer and entrepreneur, Quebec), Hugh Segal (Senate of Canada), David Smith (University of Regina), Nadia Verrelli (Queen's University), Ron Watts (Queen's University), and John Whyte (University of Saskatchewan).
The government's initiatives are proving controversial for two reasons. One is the contents of the bills. The other is procedural and concerns the federal government's strategy of treating Senate reform as a matter for Parliament alone to determine - a matter of federal legislation rather than an amendment of the constitution.
Contributors examine all angles of the debate on Senate reform. They address the constitutionality of the proposals and bring to light features of the bills that have not yet been analyzed, assessing their significance for the conduct of a reformed chamber. They consider whether the objectives of the reformers are likely to be met by these proposals or whether the result will have unintended consequences. They demonstrate how complicated Senate reform is, full of unexpected twists and turns, and show that successful reform requires a deep understanding of the country's parliamentary system and culture and a delicate approach to institutional change.
Contributors include Jane Ajzenstat (McMaster University), Peter Aucoin (Dalhousie University), Louise Carbert (Dalhousie University), Don Desserud (University of New Brunswick in Saint John), Andrew Heard (Simon Fraser University), Tom Kent (Institute for Research on Public Policy and Queen's University), Stephen Michael MacLean (independent scholar), Lorna Marsden (York University), Vincent Pouliot (lawyer and entrepreneur, Quebec), Hugh Segal (Senate of Canada), David Smith (University of Regina), Nadia Verrelli (Queen's University), Ron Watts (Queen's University), and John Whyte (University of Saskatchewan).
Details
Part of the Queen's Policy Studies Series (number 129 in series)
160 Pages, 6 x 9
Institute of Intergovernmental Relations
ISBN 9781553391906
February 2009
Formats: Paperback
Jennifer Smith is professor of political science, Dalhousie University.
The Democratic Dilemma
Edited by Jennifer Smith
Table of Contents
v
Notes on Contributors vii
1. Introduction 1
Jennifer Smith
The Senate of Canada: Historical Background
2. The Senate of Canada and the Conundrum of Reform 11
David E. Smith
3. Harmonizing Regional Representation with Parliamentary Government: The Original Plan 27
Janet Ajzenstat
4. Federal Second Chambers Compared 35
Ronald L. Watts
5. Harper’s Senate Reform: An Example of Open Federalism? 49
Nadia Verrelli
Constitutionality of the Federal Government’s Approach to Change
6. Bill C-20: Faulty Procedure and Inadequate Solution (Testimony before the Legislative Committee on Bill C-20, House of Commons, 7 May 2008) 59
Ronald L. Watts
7. Whither 91.1? The Constitutionality of Bill C-19: An Act to Limit Senate Tenure 63
Don Desserud
8. Constitutional Doubts about Bill C-20 and Senatorial Elections 81
Andrew Heard
9. Senate Reform: What Does the Constitution Say? 97
John Whyte
Content of the Federal Government’s Proposed Changes
10. Anticipating the Consequences of Bill C-20 113
Stephen Michael MacLean
11. Assessing Senate Reform through Bill C-19: The Effects of Limited Terms for Senators 117
Andrew Heard
12. The Constitutionality of Bill C-20 141
Vincent Pouliot
13. Bill C-20’s Populist Model of Campaign Finance for Senate Elections: The First Step Away from Canada’s Egalitarian Regime? 145
Peter Aucoin
14. Senate Reform: What Does Bill C-20 Mean for Women? 153
Louise Carbert
How Necessary is Senate Reform?
15. Senate Reform as a Risk to Take, Urgently 167
Tom Kent
16. Senate Reform and Democratic Legitimacy: Beyond Stasis 173
Senator Hugh Segal
17. Thoughts on Senate Reform 185
Lorna R. Marsden
Appendix 189
Contents
Edited by Jennifer Smith
Table of Contents
v
Notes on Contributors vii
1. Introduction 1
Jennifer Smith
The Senate of Canada: Historical Background
2. The Senate of Canada and the Conundrum of Reform 11
David E. Smith
3. Harmonizing Regional Representation with Parliamentary Government: The Original Plan 27
Janet Ajzenstat
4. Federal Second Chambers Compared 35
Ronald L. Watts
5. Harper’s Senate Reform: An Example of Open Federalism? 49
Nadia Verrelli
Constitutionality of the Federal Government’s Approach to Change
6. Bill C-20: Faulty Procedure and Inadequate Solution (Testimony before the Legislative Committee on Bill C-20, House of Commons, 7 May 2008) 59
Ronald L. Watts
7. Whither 91.1? The Constitutionality of Bill C-19: An Act to Limit Senate Tenure 63
Don Desserud
8. Constitutional Doubts about Bill C-20 and Senatorial Elections 81
Andrew Heard
9. Senate Reform: What Does the Constitution Say? 97
John Whyte
Content of the Federal Government’s Proposed Changes
10. Anticipating the Consequences of Bill C-20 113
Stephen Michael MacLean
11. Assessing Senate Reform through Bill C-19: The Effects of Limited Terms for Senators 117
Andrew Heard
12. The Constitutionality of Bill C-20 141
Vincent Pouliot
13. Bill C-20’s Populist Model of Campaign Finance for Senate Elections: The First Step Away from Canada’s Egalitarian Regime? 145
Peter Aucoin
14. Senate Reform: What Does Bill C-20 Mean for Women? 153
Louise Carbert
How Necessary is Senate Reform?
15. Senate Reform as a Risk to Take, Urgently 167
Tom Kent
16. Senate Reform and Democratic Legitimacy: Beyond Stasis 173
Senator Hugh Segal
17. Thoughts on Senate Reform 185
Lorna R. Marsden
Appendix 189
Contents
9781553392774
$45.95 CAD
Paperback
9781553391302
$43.95 CAD
Paperback
