A Short Path to Revitalized Federalism

Abstract

The thesis of this paper is that an elected Senate is an urgent need, too important to remain undone because federal and provincial politicians cannot agree on the constitutional amendment required for full reform. There is another way. If the Prime Minister really wants to reduce Canada’s democratic deficit, he should forgo his patronage power to make Senate appointments. Legislation could provide for federally-organized elections to fill Senate vacancies. The nature of the Senate would be changed quite quickly if the legislation authorized early pensions for present appointees who create vacancies by retiring before – say, up to ten years before – the mandatory age 75. Senate reform has been long needed, but it is given urgency by the recent decision of provincial and territorial Premiers to establish their “Council of the Federation”, billed to “revitalize the Canadian federation and build a new era of constructive and cooperative federalism”.