Senate Reform

Representation in the Senate has been the subject of much concern ever since Confederation. The West has been particularly vocal in this regard. Many argue that the Senate’s regional seat distribution does not reflect the realities of growing regions such as the West, that the method for selecting Senators (appointment by the Prime Minister) is undemocratic, and that the institution has been less than effective in dealing with regional or minority concerns.

As a result of these concerns, former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed undertook consultations that led to the notion of a Triple E Senate, namely one that is elected, effective and equal. The Triple E Senate became a prominent feature of Alberta’s bargaining for constitutional changes during the Mulroney administration. Due to the failure of both the Meech Lake and Charlottetown Accords, proposals regarding a Triple E Senate remain unresolved.

For more on Senate Reform, please visit Brains Trust. And feel free to join on-going conversations on this subject in our blog, Hullabaloos.  For previous posts, visit the blog's archives section.