Reforming The Senate In Canada

The debate of existence of the Senate

Recently, the Canadian society is controversial about the existence of the Senate due to the scandals about expenses. In this essay, it will discuss the importance of reforming the Senate. The Senate asks too much money from the people which are unfair. People are willing to keep the Senate as long as the members represent their provinces’ local interest, having the same seats and elected by the people instead of the Prime Minister.

To keep the Senate costs too much than it really worth, so people believe it’s unnecessary and undemocratic compare with giving more political power to the House of Commons. The members of the Senate are chosen directly from the Prime Minister instead of electing by

the people, so more and more people believe it’s a political favor for those who work in the Senate. “The Reform Party members have said that the Senate costs us $60 million and that they want to reform it. They want an elected Senate will cost Canadians $120 million or more every year to operate.”( Hon. JS, Debates of the House of Commons, 2000) The quote illustrates how much money that the Senate need from the Canadians to reform it and costs twice as much money to operate every year.

The Senate costs the most money compare with all the political institutions in Canada. In fact, people who work for the Senate rarely provide a final check on the law passed in the House of Commons, while getting the highest salary. On the other hand, people also need to pay for other governments at the same time. For instance, “We have municipal governments, urban hamlets, towns and villages, rural municipalities, counties, school boards, hospital boards, provincial governments, the federal House of Commons, and the Senate.”( Hon. JS, Debates of the House of Commons, 2000) People think it’s no longer necessary to pay the Senate more money when people’s basic life needs can be easily satisfied by other governments. Actually, the Canadians consider the Senate’s job as a political furnishing, because the Senate does fewer jobs than municipal or provincial governments. People do not think that the Senate deserves so much money to operate while doing nothing. “As a result the Senate has operated for much of its history as a partisan

political body — its members following instructions from their party leaders in the Commons — rather than as originally intended, as an independent voice for regional interests.”(Foot, R. Senate of Canada, 2016) On the other hand, the members of the Senate begin to follow the instructions from their party leader in the Commons. However, the Senators are supposed to listen from people and express their ideas as an independent individual. As a result, the Senate has to be reformed.

Reforming the Senate should be focused on the democracy and legality.

For example, the Senator should be elected by the people. Besides, the provincial distribution of seats in the Senate does not fairly reflect the actual situation in the provinces. “However, because the Senate is not elected and represents the worst of partisan, political patronage, it lacks all legitimacy.”(Cranny, M, Jarvis, G, Moles. (2001) P233) It summarizes that the Prime Minister elects the Senator which makes the Senate a place without justice and fairness. Also, the Senate should get more legislative power from the Prime Minister. Therefore, it makes the Senator’s job more effective for the whole Canadian society. “As it stands, Quebec and Ontario each have 24 seats — the same as the four Western provinces combined. Atlantic Canada, with just 7% of the population, holds a disproportionate 29% of the seats.”(Jesse K, Canada needs Triple-E Senate reform, 2013) It will be equal if dividing the seats in the parliament does not according to the number of population within a province. The seats division illustrates the status of each province in the parliament. Also, it is important to choose the senators through voting. Otherwise, people will be disappointed if the senators can’t shoulder the responsibility to fight for their interests. On the other hand, the Senate cannot be

abolished.

Historically, the Senate is a symbol for Canada. It is created under Constitution Act, 1867 to protect regional interests. Usually, the Senators are those who are wealthy or having powers in the military. “ It has been a tradition that prime ministers reward top party fundraising lieutenants with Senate seats. Top party officials, political staffers and former candidates and MPs also fall under the category of partisan appointments.”(S, Mike. Senate nominations: A patronage guide for prime ministers-and the public, 2013) Obviously, the Senators have a position of superiors status among the Canadian society. If the Prime Minister revokes all the Senators, it is hard for the parliament to compete with them, since the Senators have the ability to influence the whole Canadian society. Therefore, the Senate cannot be abolished.

To sum up, the Senate have to be reformed while taking less money from the people and do more jobs. Due to the symbolism of the Senate and the social status of the Senators, it is impossible to abolish it.