Canada

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Canada

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The Senate of Canada (French: Le Sénat du Canada) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the sovereign (represented by the governor general) and the House of Commons. An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. The Speaker of the Senate of Canada ( French: Président du Sénat du Canada) is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. Noël A Kinsella (born November 28 1939) is a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate. The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative The Leader of the Government in the Senate (Leader du gouvernement au Sénat is a Canadian cabinet minister who leads the government side in the Canadian Senate Marjory LeBreton, PC (born July 4 1940) is a Canadian Senator and vice-chair of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Canada The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative In Canada, the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Senate ( French: Leader de l'opposition au Sénat) is the leader of the largest party in the Céline Hervieux-Payette, PC (born April 22 1941, L'Assomption Quebec) is the current Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian Principles policies and electoral achievement The NDP grew from populist, agrarian and democratic socialist roots The Centre Block is the main building of the three on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Ontario. Parliament Hill (colloquially The Hill, French Colline du Parlement) is a scenic location on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The politics of Canada function within a framework of Constitutional monarchy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The Governor General of Canada ( French: Gouverneure générale du Canada, or: Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative Michaëlle Jean, CC CMM COM CD ʒɑ̃ (born September 6, 1957, in Port-au-Prince, The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Honorific prefixes --> Stephen Joseph Harper PC The Cabinet of Canada (Cabinet du Canada plays an important role in the Government of Canada, in accordance with the Westminster System. The Twenty-Eighth Canadian Ministry is the combined Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Secretaries of State that have governed The following list outlines the Structure of the Canadian federal government. In the Canadian cabinet the President of The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (President du Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada is nominally in charge of the Privy In Canada the Privy Council Office (Bureau du Conseil privé is the Secretariat of the federal cabinet and the department of the Prime Minister The Clerk of the Privy Council (Greffier du Conseil privé is the senior Civil servant in the government and the Secretary to the Canadian Cabinet. The Canadian Government, formally Her Majesty's Government in Canada, is the Federal government of Canada. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Parliament of Canada (Parlement du Canada is Canada 's legislative branch, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. The 39th Canadian Parliament was in session from April 3 2006 until September 7 2008 The Speaker of the Senate of Canada ( French: Président du Sénat du Canada) is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The Leader of the Government in the Senate (Leader du gouvernement au Sénat is a Canadian cabinet minister who leads the government side in the Canadian Senate In Canada, the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Senate ( French: Leader de l'opposition au Sénat) is the leader of the largest party in the Representation in the Canadian Senate is divided into seats on a provincial basis The House of Commons (Chambre des communes is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and In Canada the Speaker of the House of Commons ( French: Président de la Chambre des communes) is the presiding officer of the The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Leader du gouvernement à la Chambre des communes more commonly known as the Government House Leader, is the In Canada Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition ( French: L'Opposition Loyale de Sa Majesté) commonly known as the Official Opposition, is usually In Canada, each political party with representation in the House of Commons has a House Leader who is a Front bench Member of Parliament (MP and an expert The Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 39th Canadian parliament is listed below See also Canadian electoral system, Timeline of Canadian elections The Parliament of Canada (Parlement du Canada has two chambers. The Canadian electoral system is based on a Parliamentary system of Government, modelled on that of the United Kingdom. The 2006 Canadian federal election (more formally the 39th General Election) was held on January 23 2006 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian The Supreme Court of Canada consists of the Chief Justice of Canada ( Juge en chef du Canada) and eight Puisne Justices all appointed by Beverley McLachlin PC (born September 7, 1943) is the Chief Justice of Canada, the first woman to hold that position List of final courts of appeal in Canada. For details on the court system see Canadian court system. The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's Constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions The British North America Acts 1867&ndash1975 are the original names of a series of Acts at the core of the Constitution of Canada. In many Commonwealth jurisdictions the phrase "peace order and good government" is an expression used in law to express the legitimate objects of Legislative The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (also known as The Charter of Rights and Freedoms or simply the Charter) is a Bill of rights entrenched in the The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second largest country in total area. Canadian federalism is one of the three pillars of the constitutional order along with Responsible government and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Federal and provincial aspects Across the country the Canadian Crown is unitary the headship of state is not a part of either the federal or provincial jurisdictions In Canada, the Lieutenant-Governor (lɛfˈtɛnənt often without a Hyphen) ( French: lieutenant-gouverneur, or: lieutenant-gouverneure Executive Councils in the Provinces and territories of Canada are constitutional organs headed by the Lieutenant-Governor. National regions Provinces and territories are normally grouped into the following Regions (generally from west to east Northern Canada Canadian political culture is in some ways part of a greater North American and European political culture, which emphasizes Constitutional law The foreign relations of Canada are Canada 's relations with other governments and peoples This is a list of leaders and office-holders of Canada. See also Canadian incumbents by year. Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The Parliament of Canada (Parlement du Canada is Canada 's legislative branch, seated at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of The Governor General of Canada ( French: Gouverneure générale du Canada, or: Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative The House of Commons (Chambre des communes is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and

Composition

The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister. Advice, in Constitutional law, is formal usually binding instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus ^[1] Seats are assigned on a regional basis, with each of the four major regions receiving 24 seats, and the remainder of the available seats being assigned to smaller regions. The four major regions are: Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and the Western provinces. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk The Maritime provinces, called the Maritimes in local English (or the Canadian Maritimes by non-Canadians is a region of Eastern Canada Western Canada, commonly referred to as the West, is a region of Canada normally including all parts of Canada west of the province The seats for Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut are assigned apart from these regional divisions. Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation The Northwest Territories (ˌnɔrθˌwɛstˈtɛrɨtɔriz ( NWT or NT; French, les Territoires du Nord-Ouest) is a territory Yukon (ˈjuːkɒn is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three territories. Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Senators may serve until they reach the age of 75.

The Senate is referred to as the "upper house" of Parliament, and the House of Commons is sometimes referred to as the "lower house". An upper house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Lower house. A lower house is one of two chambers of a Bicameral Legislature, the other chamber being the Upper house. This does not, however, imply that the Senate is more powerful than the House of Commons, merely that its members and officers outrank the members and officers of the House of Commons in the order of precedence for the purposes of protocol. The Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada Indeed, as a matter of practice and custom, the Commons is by far the dominant chamber and is more intimately referred to as "the other place". Although the approval of both houses is necessary for legislation, the Senate rarely rejects bills passed by the directly elected Commons. For other uses see Bill. A bill is a proposed new law introduced within a Legislature that has not been ratified, adopted Moreover, the government is responsible solely to the House of Commons; the prime minister and Cabinet stay in office only as long as he or she retains the support of the lower house. The Canadian Government, formally Her Majesty's Government in Canada, is the Federal government of Canada. The Senate does not exercise any such control. Although legislation can normally be introduced in either house, the majority of government bills originate in the House of Commons. Under the constitution, money bills must always originate in the House of Commons. In the Westminster system (and colloquially in the United States) a money bill or supply bill is a bill that solely concerns Taxation

Site

The Senate and the House of Commons sit in separate chambers in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill, which is located in Ottawa, Ontario. The Centre Block is the main building of the three on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Ontario. Parliament Hill (colloquially The Hill, French Colline du Parlement) is a scenic location on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec

The chamber in which the Senate sits is sometimes called the red chamber, due to the red cloth that adorns the chamber as well as the throne. This article is about royal thrones for the order of Angels by the same name see Thrones. The red Senate Chamber is lavishly decorated, in contrast with the more modest green Commons Chamber. This decorative scheme is inherited from the British Houses of Parliament, where the Lords chamber is a lavish room with red benches, whereas the Commons chamber is more sparsely decorated and is furnished in green. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords

There are benches on two sides of the chamber, divided by a centre aisle. The speaker's chair is at one end of the chamber; in front of it is the clerk's table. Various clerks sit at the table, ready to advise the speaker and the senators on procedure when necessary. Members of the government sit on the benches on the speaker's right, while members of the opposition occupy the benches on the speaker's left (however, due to the large number of opposition senators, a number also occupy seats on the speaker's right).

History

The Senate came into existence in 1867, when the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the British North America Act, uniting the Province of Canada (which was separated into Quebec and Ontario) with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into a single federation, a Dominion called Canada. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories This soft redirect exists because Canada's Constitution Act 1867 is known by its original name in British law. The Province of Canada or the United Province of Canada was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867 Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities under sovereign authority within the British Empire and The Canadian Parliament was based on the Westminster model (that is, the model of the Parliament of the United Kingdom). The Westminster system is a democratic Parliamentary system of Government modelled after the British government (the Parliament of the United The Senate was intended to mirror the British House of Lords, in that it was meant to represent the social and economic élite. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, described it as a body of "sober second thought" that would curb the "democratic excesses" of the elected House of Commons and provide regional representation. The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Sir John Alexander Macdonald GCB, KCMG, PC ( January 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first Prime Minister As an upper house on the British parliamentary model, it was not meant to be more than a revising body, or a brake on the House of Commons. Therefore, it was deliberately made an appointed house, since an elected Senate might prove too popular and too powerful, and be able to block the will of the House of Commons.

Senators

The Senate Chamber of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Parliament Hill (colloquially The Hill, French Colline du Parlement) is a scenic location on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality.

The governor general holds the nominal power to appoint senators, although in modern practice he or she makes appointments only on the advice of the prime minister. The Governor General of Canada ( French: Gouverneure générale du Canada, or: Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative The Prime Minister of Canada ( French: Premier ministre du Canada) is the primary Minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus Senators originally held their seats for life. A senator for life is a member of the Senate elected or appointed for lifetime However, under the British North America Act, 1965 (now known as the Constitution Act, 1965), members may not sit in the Senate after reaching the age of 75. The British North America Acts 1867&ndash1975 are the original names of a series of Acts at the core of the Constitution of Canada. (Those incumbents appointed prior to the change could continue to sit past age 75. A grandfather clause is a term used in US English for an exception that allows an old rule to continue to apply to some existing situations when a new rule will apply to all future situations ) Prime ministers normally choose members of their own parties to be senators, though they sometimes nominate independents or members of opposing parties. In practice, a large number of the members of the Senate are ex-Cabinet ministers, ex-provincial premiers, and other eminent people. A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. In Canada, a premier is the Head of government of a province or territory.

Under the constitution, each province or territory is entitled to a specific number of senate seats. The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's Constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions The Constitution divides Canada into four "divisions", each with an equal number of senators: 24 for Ontario; 24 for Quebec; 24 for the Maritime provinces (10 each for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and 4 for Prince Edward Island); and 24 for the Western provinces (6 each for Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta). The Maritime provinces, called the Maritimes in local English (or the Canadian Maritimes by non-Canadians is a region of Eastern Canada Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Prince Edward Island (ˌprɪns ˌɛdwɚd ˈaɪlɨnd ( PEI or P Western Canada, commonly referred to as the West, is a region of Canada normally including all parts of Canada west of the province Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Newfoundland and Labrador, which became a province in 1949, is not assigned to any division, and is represented by 6 senators. Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation The three territories (the Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Nunavut) are allocated 1 senator each. The Northwest Territories (ˌnɔrθˌwɛstˈtɛrɨtɔriz ( NWT or NT; French, les Territoires du Nord-Ouest) is a territory Yukon (ˈjuːkɒn is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three territories. Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Quebec senators are the only ones to be assigned to specific districts within their province. Historically, this was adopted to ensure that both French and English-speaking senators from Quebec were represented appropriately in the Senate.

As a result of this arrangement, if representation by population was to be the guiding criterion for assigning seats in the Canadian Senate, then Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta—Canada's fastest growing provinces in terms of population—are currently under-represented, while the Maritimes are over-represented. For example, British Columbia, with a current population of about four million, has been historically entitled to six senators, while Nova Scotia, with a current population of fewer than one million, has been entitled to ten. Only Quebec currently has a share of senators approximately proportional to its share of the total population. However, as with most other upper-houses worldwide, the Canadian formula does not use representation by population as a primary criterion for member selection, since this is already done for the lower house. Rather, the intent when the formula was struck was to achieve a balance of regional interests and to provide a house of "sober second thought" to check the power of the lower house when necessary.

Since 1989, the voters of Alberta have elected "senators-in-waiting", or nominees for the province's Senate seats. The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk Manitoba (English ˌmænɨˈtoʊbə French /manitoba/ is a province of Canada, spanning 647797 square kilometres (250116  sq mi of North America Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's Newfoundland and Labrador (ˈnuːfɨn(dlənd ən(d ˈlæbrəˌdɔr (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador is a province of Canada, the tenth and latest to join the Confederation New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally The Northwest Territories (ˌnɔrθˌwɛstˈtɛrɨtɔriz ( NWT or NT; French, les Territoires du Nord-Ouest) is a territory Prince Edward Island (ˌprɪns ˌɛdwɚd ˈaɪlɨnd ( PEI or P Yukon (ˈjuːkɒn is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three territories. Nunavut (ˈnuːnəvʊt ( Inuktitut syllabics: ᓄᓇᕗᑦ is the largest and newest territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Alberta is the only Canadian province to elect nominees for appointment to the Senate of Canada in a process known as an Alberta Senate nominee election These elections, however, are not held pursuant to any federal constitutional or legal provision; thus, the prime minister is not bound to recommend the nominees for appointment. Only two senators-in-waiting have actually been appointed to the Senate. The first was Stan Waters, who was appointed in 1990 on the recommendation of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, but he died in 1991. Stanley Charles "Stan" Waters CD ( June 14, 1920 &ndash September 25, 1991) was Canada 's first Senator Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ (predominantly known as Brian Mulroney) (born March 20, 1939) was the eighteenth The second was Bert Brown, elected a "senator-in-waiting" in 1998 and 2004, and appointed to the Senate in 2007 on the recommendation of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Bert Brown (born March 22, 1938) is a current Canadian Senator and retired farmer and development consultant currently residing in WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Honorific prefixes --> Stephen Joseph Harper PC In May 2008, the government of Saskatchewan announced plans to hold similar elections. MAY ( also known as: Mei メイ 메이 is a Korean singer well known in South Korea for singing the song "Miracle" 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Saskatchewan (səˈskætʃəwən) is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of 588276 ^[2]

There exists a constitutional provision, Section 26 of the Constitution Act, 1867, under which the queen may appoint four or eight extra senators; the additional senators must equally represent Canada's four "divisions". As in the case of normal senatorial appointments, the prime minister recommends for appointment the senators he has chosen, and the queen is bound by constitutional convention to almost always follow this advice. This provision has been successfully used only once, in 1990, when Prime Minister Brian Mulroney sought to ensure the passage of a bill creating the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Canadian Goods and Services Tax ( GST) ( French:) is a multi-level Value-added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991 In this case the queen followed her prime minister's advice, thereby placing responsibility on him, who had to directly answer to the House, rather than on the Crown. The appointment of eight additional senators allowed a slight Tory majority. The only other attempt to use Section 26, by Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie in 1874, was denied by Queen Victoria on the advice of the British Government. Sir Alexander Mackenzie (Alasdair MacCoinnich 1764 - March 12, 1820) was a Scottish-Canadian explorer.

A senator's seat automatically becomes vacant if he or she fails to attend the Senate for two consecutive parliamentary sessions. Furthermore, a senator who is found guilty of treason, indictable offence, or any "infamous crime" is declared bankrupt or insolvent, thereby losing his or her seat, as does a senator who ceases to be qualified (see below). In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation. In many Common law Jurisdictions (eg the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Canada, United States, India, Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their Creditors Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against

The annual salary of each senator, as of 2006, is $122,700; members may receive additional salaries in right of other offices they hold (for instance, the Speakership). The Speaker of the Senate of Canada ( French: Président du Sénat du Canada) is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. Senators rank immediately above Members of Parliament in the order of precedence. This is a list of members of the Canadian House of Commons in the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada

Qualifications

The Constitution Act, 1867 outlines the qualifications of senators. Individuals must be both citizens of Canada and at least thirty years of age to be eligible for appointment to the Senate. Senators must also reside in the provinces or territories for which they are appointed. ^[1]

The Constitution Act, 1867 also sets property qualifications for senators. A senator must possess land worth at least $4,000 in the province for which he or she is appointed. Moreover, a senator must own real and personal property worth at least $4,000 (adjusted for inflation this number could be estimated between $175,000 and $200,000 in current dollars), above his or her debts and liabilities. In the Common law, real property (or realty) refers to one of the two main classes of Property, the other class being Personal property ( Personal property is a type of Property. In the Common law systems personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. ^[1] These property qualifications were originally introduced to ensure that the Senate represented Canada's economic and social élite. Now, however, the sum in question is far less valuable due to the effects of inflation. Nevertheless, the property qualification has never been abolished or amended, and initially caused problems with the 1997 Senate appointment of Sister Peggy Butts, a Catholic nun who had taken a vow of poverty. Mary Alice "Peggy" Butts ( August 15 1924 &ndash March 6 2004) served as a Canadian Senator from ^[3] (The situation was resolved when her order formally transferred a small parcel of land to her name. ^[3])

The original Constitution of Canada did not explicitly bar women from sitting as senators. However, until the end of the 1920s, only men had been appointed to the body. In 1927, five Canadian women ("The Famous Five") requested the Supreme Court of Canada to determine whether females were eligible to become senators. The Famous Five or The Valiant Five were five Canadian women who in 1927 asked the Supreme Court of Canada to answer the question "Does the word 'Persons' The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian Specifically, they asked whether women were considered "persons" under the British North America Act, 1867, which provided: "The Governor General shall . . . summon qualified Persons to the Senate; and . . . every Person so summoned shall become and be a Member of the Senate and a Senator. " In Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General) (commonly known as the "Persons Case"), the Supreme Court unanimously held that women could not become senators. Edwards v Canada (Attorney General AC 124 &ndash also known as the Persons Case &ndash is a famous Canadian and British constitutional The court based its decision on the grounds that the framers of the Constitution did not foresee female senators, as women did not participate in politics at the time; moreover, they pointed to the constitution's use of the pronoun "he" when referring to senators. On appeal, however, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (effectively Canada's highest court at the time) ruled that women were indeed "persons" in the meaning of the Constitution. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 Four months later, the government of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King recommended for appointment Canada's first female senator, Cairine Wilson of Ontario. William Lyon Mackenzie King PC OM CMG ( December 17, 1874 – July 22, 1950) was a Canadian Cairine Reay Mackay Wilson ( February 4 1885 &ndash March 3 1962) was Canada's first female senator.

Officers

The presiding officer of the Senate, known as the speaker, is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister. The speaker is assisted by a speaker pro tempore (or speaker for the time-being), who is elected by the Senate at the beginning of each parliamentary session. If the speaker is unable to attend, the speaker pro tempore presides instead. Furthermore, the Parliament of Canada Act, passed in 1985, authorizes the speaker to appoint another senator to take his or her place temporarily.

The speaker presides over sittings of the Senate and controls debates by calling on members to speak. If a senator believes that a rule (or standing order) has been breached, he or she may raise a "point of order," on which the speaker makes a ruling. However, the speaker's decisions are subject to appeal to the whole Senate. When presiding, the speaker remains impartial, though he or she still maintains membership in a political party. Unlike the speaker of the House of Commons, the speaker of the Senate does not hold a casting vote, but instead retains their right to vote in the same manner as any other senator (see Procedure below). The current speaker of the Senate is Noël A. Kinsella. The Speaker of the Senate of Canada ( French: Président du Sénat du Canada) is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. Noël A Kinsella (born November 28 1939) is a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate.

The member of the government responsible for steering legislation through the Senate is leader of the government in the Senate. The leader is a senator selected by the prime minister, and serves in Cabinet. The leader manages the schedule of the Senate, and attempts to secure the opposition's support for the government's legislative agenda. The opposition equivalent is the leader of the opposition in the Senate, who is selected by his or her counterpart in the House, the leader of the opposition. Parliamentary opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government particularly in a Westminster -based Parliamentary system In Canada, the Leader of the Official Opposition in the Senate ( French: Leader de l'opposition au Sénat) is the leader of the largest party in the However, if the Official Opposition in the House is a different party than the Official Opposition in the Senate (as was the case, for example, from 1993 to 2003), then the Senate party chooses its own leader.

Officers of the Senate who are not members include the clerk, the deputy clerk, the law clerk, and several other clerks. These officers advise the speaker and members on the rules and procedure of the Senate. Another officer is the usher of the black rod, whose duties include the maintenance of order and security within the Senate chamber. The Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate of Canada is the most senior protocol position in the Parliament of Canada The usher of the black rod bears a ceremonial black ebony staff, from which the title "black rod" arises. Ebony ( Diospyros ebenum) also known as India Ebony or Ceylon Ebony depending on its origin is a Tree in the genus Diospyros This position is roughly analogous to that of sergeant-at-arms in the House of Commons, but the usher's duties are more ceremonial in nature. The responsibility for security and the infrastructure lie with the Director General of Parliamentary Precinct Services.

Procedure

The throne and chair in the background are used by the queen and her consort, or the governor general and his or her spouse, respectively, during the opening of Parliament. The speaker of the Senate employs the chair in front.

George VI, King of Canada, and his consort, Elizabeth, occupy the thrones in the Senate, while the king grants royal assent to laws, May 19, 1939. TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (Elizabeth Angela Marguerite 4 August 1900 &ndash 30 March 2002 was the Queen Consort of King George The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of Lawmaking by formally assenting to an Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The Senate Chamber is the site of the opening of Parliament, a formal ceremony held at the beginning of each new parliamentary session. In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event held usually in October or November that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament During the ceremony, the governor general, seated on the throne in the Senate Chamber and in the presence of both Houses of Parliament, delivers a speech outlining the government's agenda for the upcoming parliamentary session. If the sovereign is present in Canada, he or she may make the speech from the throne instead.

Under the Rules of the Senate, the Senate sits Mondays to Fridays. Sittings of the Senate are open to the public, and are transcribed verbatim in the Debates of the Senate. Unlike the House of Commons, the Senate does not regularly broadcast its hearings, although at times matters of particular interest have been broadcast.

The Constitution Act, 1867 establishes a quorum of 15 members (including the member presiding) for the Senate. The Constitution Act 1867 (formerly called the British North America Act 1867, and still known informally as the BNA Act) constitutes a major part of In Law, a quorum is the minimum number of members of a Deliberative body necessary to conduct the business of that group Any senator may request the speaker to ascertain the presence of a quorum; if it does not appear that one is present, the speaker orders bells to be rung, so that other senators on the parliamentary precincts may come to the chamber. If a quorum still does not appear, the speaker must adjourn the Senate until the next sitting day.

During debates, the first senator to rise is entitled to make the next speech. The speaker may settle disputes over which senator rose first, but his or her decision may be altered by the Senate. Motions must be moved by one senator and seconded by another before debate may begin; some motions, however, are non-debatable.

Speeches may be made in either of Canada's official languages (English or French). Members must address their speeches to the other senators as a whole, using the phrase "honourable senators" (honorables sénateurs), without directly addressing an individual senator. Instead, individual members must be referred to in the third person, not as "you. " This is similar to the process in the British House of Lords where all speeches and comments are addressed to "my lords", as well as the Canadian House of Commons, where all comments are addressed to the speaker of the house. The speaker enforces the rules of the Senate during debate. Disregarding the speaker's instructions is considered a severe breach of the rules of the Senate.

No senator may speak more than once on the same question; however, a senator who has moved a substantive motion, proposed an inquiry, or sponsored a bill holds a right of reply that enables them to speak again at the close of debate. In the case of a bill, this right of reply can only be exercised at the second reading debate. The Rules of the Senate prescribe time limits for speeches. The limits depend on the nature of the motion, but are generally about fifteen minutes. However, the leaders of the government and opposition in the Senate are not subject to such time constraints. Debate may be further restricted by the passage of "time allocation" motions. Alternatively, the Senate may end debate more quickly by passing a motion "for the previous question. " If such a motion carries, debate ends immediately, and the Senate proceeds to vote. Debate may also end if no senator wishes to make any further remarks.

When the debate concludes, the motion in question is put to a vote. The Senate first votes by voice vote; the presiding officer puts the question, and members respond either "yea" (in favour of the motion) or "nay" (against the motion). The presiding officer then announces the result of the voice vote, but two or more senators may challenge his or her assessment, thereby forcing a recorded vote (known as a division). Division of the house is a parliamentary mechanism which calls for a rising vote wherein the members of the house literally divide into groups indicating a vote in favour of or in opposition First, members in favour of the motion rise, so that the clerks may record their names and votes. The same procedure is then repeated for members who oppose the motion, and thereafter repeated again for those who wish to abstain. In all cases, the speaker holds a vote (which is not usually exercised) and votes first when a recorded division is called; a tied vote results in the motion's failure. If the number of members voting, including the presiding officer, does not total 15, then a quorum is not present, and the vote is invalid.

Committees

The Parliament of Canada uses committees for a variety of purposes. Committees consider bills in detail, and can make amendments. Other committees scrutinize various government agencies and ministries.

The largest of the Senate committees is the Committee of the Whole, which, as the name suggests, consists of all senators. The Committee of the Whole meets in the Chamber of the Senate, but proceeds under slightly modified rules of debate. (For example, there is no limit on the number of speeches a member may make on a particular motion. ) The presiding officer is known as the chairman. The Senate may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole for a number of purposes, including to consider legislation, or to hear testimony from individuals. Nominees to be officers of Parliament often appear before Committee of the Whole to answer questions with respect to their qualifications prior to their appointment.

The Senate also has several standing committees, each of which has responsibility for a particular area of government (for example, finance or transport). These committees consider legislation and conduct special studies on issues referred to them by the Senate, and may hold hearings, collect evidence, and report their findings to the Senate. Standing committees consist of between nine and fifteen members each, and elect their own chairmen.

Special committees are appointed by the Senate on an ad hoc basis to consider a particular issue. The Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples is a Standing committee in the Senate of Canada. The Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is a Standing committee in the Senate of Canada. The Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking Trade and Commerce is a Standing committee in the Senate of Canada. The Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Conflict of Interest for Senators is a Standing committee in the Senate of Canada. The Canadian Senate Committee on Energy the Environment and Natural Resources is a standing Committee of the Senate of Canada The Committee on Fisheries and Oceans is a Standing committee in the Senate of Canada. The Committee on Foreign Affairs was first established in March 1938 under the name of Committee on External Relations The Committee on Human Rights is a Standing committee of the Senate of Canada, which handles all matters conncerning Human rights. The Committee on the Internal Economy Budgets and Administration is a Standing committee of the Senate of Canada. The Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs is a Standing committee of the Senate of Canada. The Committee on National Finance is a Standing committee of the Senate of Canada. The number of members for a special committee varies, but the partisan composition would roughly reflect the strength of the parties in the whole Senate. These committees have been struck to study bills (e. g. , the Special Senate Committee on Bill C-36 (the Anti-terrorism Act), 2001), or particular issues of concern (e. g. , the Special Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs).

Other committees include joint committees, which include both members of the House of Commons and senators. There are presently two joint committees, the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations, which considers delegated legislation, and the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament which advises the two Speakers on the management of the Library. Parliament may also establish Special Joint committees on an ad hoc basis to consider issues of particular interest or importance.

Legislative functions

Although legislation may be introduced in either House, most bills originate in the House of Commons. Because the Senate's schedule for debate is more flexible than that of the House of Commons, the government will sometimes introduce particularly complex legislation in the Senate, first. For the stages through which the legislation passes in Parliament, see Act of Parliament. An Act of Parliament is a Law enacted as Primary legislation by a national or sub-national Parliament.

In conformity with the British model, the upper house is not permitted to originate bills imposing taxes or appropriating public funds. Unlike in Britain but similar to the United States, this restriction on the power of the Senate is not merely a matter of convention, but is explicitly stated in the Constitution Act, 1867. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In addition, the House of Commons may, in effect, override the Senate's refusal to approve an amendment to the Canadian Constitution; however they must wait at least 180 days before exercising this override. Other than these two exceptions, the power of the two Houses of Parliament is theoretically equal; the approval of each is necessary for a bill's passage. In practice, however, the House of Commons is the dominant chamber of Parliament, with the Senate very rarely exercising its powers in a manner that opposes the will of the democratically elected chamber.

The Senate tends to be less partisan and confrontational than the House, and is more likely to come to a consensus on issues. It also often has more opportunity to study proposed bills in detail either as a whole or in committees. This careful review process is why the Senate is still today called the chamber of "sober second thought", though the term has a slightly different meaning than it did when used by John A. Macdonald. The format of the Senate allows it to make many small improvements to legislation before its final reading. Although the Senate rarely vetoes bills from the House, their minor changes are usually accepted by it.

The Senate at times is more active at reviewing, amending, and even rejecting legislation. The late 1980s and early 1990s was one of those periods. During this period the Senate opposed legislation on issues such as the 1988 free trade bill with the U. The Free Trade Agreement ( FTA) was a Trade agreement signed by Canada and the United States on October 4th 1988. S. (forcing the Canadian federal election of 1988), and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament The Canadian Goods and Services Tax ( GST) ( French:) is a multi-level Value-added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991 ^[4][5] In the 1990s, the Senate rejected four pieces of legislation: a bill passed by the Commons restricting abortion (C-43), a proposal to streamline federal agencies (C-93), a bill to redevelop the Lester B. Pearson airport (C-28), and a bill on profiting from authorship as it relates to crime (C-220). An Lester B Pearson International Airport is a major International airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated 27 kilometres (17 mi northwest The phrase Son of Sam Law refers to a type of law designed to keep criminals from profiting from their crimes often by selling their stories to Publishers Such laws often authorize The Senate also performs investigative functions. In the 1960s, the Senate authored the first Canadian reports on media concentration with the Special Senate Subcommittee on Mass Media or the Davey Commission,^[6] since "appointed senators would be better insulated from editorial pressure brought by publishers"; this triggered the formation of press councils. ^[7] More recent investigations include the Kirby Commissions on health care (as opposed to the Romanow Commission) and mental health care by Senator Michael Kirby, and the Final Report on the Canadian News Media in 2006. ^[8]

Relationship with the Government

Unlike the House of Commons, the Senate has no effect in the decision to end the term of the prime minister or of the government. Only the Commons may force the prime minister to tender his resignation, or to recommend the dissolution of Parliament and issue of election writs, by passing a motion of no-confidence or by withdrawing supply. Loss of supply occurs where a government in a Parliamentary democracy using the Westminster System or a system derived from it is denied a supply of treasury or exchequer Thus, the Senate's oversight of the government is limited.

Most Cabinet ministers are from the House of Commons, rather than the Senate. In particular, every prime minister has been a member of the House of Commons since 1896, with the exception of John Turner, who ruled from the halls. John Napier Wyndham Turner PC CC QC (born June 7, 1929) is a retired Canadian Lawyer and Politician Typically, the Cabinet includes only one senator: the leader of the government in the Senate. Occasionally, when the governing party does not include any members from a particular region, Senators are appointed to ministerial positions in order to maintain regional balance in the Cabinet. The most recent example of this was on February 6, 2006, when Stephen Harper appointed Michael Fortier to serve as both a senator representing the Montreal region, where the minority government had no elected representation, and the Cabinet position of minister of public works and government services. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Honorific prefixes --> Stephen Joseph Harper PC This article is about the Canadian politician For the Oklahoma City Bombing informant see Michael Fortier (American. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec A minority government or a minority cabinet is a Cabinet of a Parliamentary system formed when the governing Political party or Michael Fortier is expected to face the electorate in the next general election.

Senate reform

Reform of the upper house has been an issue for much of Canadian history—and in fact predates Confederation in the Province of Canada—with most plans for reform chiefly involving amending the appointment process. Parliament first considered reform measures in 1874, and the Senate debated reforming itself in 1909. ^[9]

There were minor changes in 1965 when a mandatory retirement age for new senators was set at 75 years, and in 1982 when the Senate was given a qualified veto over certain constitutional amendments. ^[10] While most senators hold their seat until the mandatory age, Andy Thompson stepped down 20 months ahead of his scheduled retirement after critics drew attention to his poor attendance while continuing to draw his salary. This article is about the Canadian politician For the English footballer of the same name see here. It was also the first time that the Senate had voted to suspend one of their members,^[11] which prompted his resignation shortly afterwards.

Schemes to create an elected Senate did not gain widespread support until the 1980s, when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau enacted the National Energy Program in the wake of the energy crises of the 1970s. The National Energy Program ( NEP) was an energy policy of the Government of Canada. Many western Canadians then called for a "Triple-E Senate", standing for "elected, equal, and effective". The Triple-E Senate (standing for equal, elected, and effective) is a topic of Constitutional debate in Canada and a proposed They believed that allowing equal representation of the provinces, regardless of population, would protect the interests of the smaller provinces, and would end the domination of Ontario and Quebec.

There have been at least 28 major proposals for constitutional Senate reform since the early 1970s, and all have failed. ^[10] The Meech Lake Accord, a series of constitutional amendments proposed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, would have required the federal government to choose a senator from a list of persons nominated by the provincial government; the accord, however, failed to obtain the requisite unanimous consent of the provincial legislatures. The Meech Lake Accord was a set of failed amendments to the Constitution of Canada negotiated in 1987 by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the provincial Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ (predominantly known as Brian Mulroney) (born March 20, 1939) was the eighteenth Political federalism is a Political philosophy in which a group of members are bound together (Latin foedus, covenant) with a governing A successor proposal, the Charlottetown Accord, involved a provision under which the Senate would include an equal number of senators from each province, elected either by the provincial legislatures or by the people. The Charlottetown Accord was a package of constitutional amendments proposed by the Canadian federal and provincial governments in 1992. This accord was soundly defeated in the referendum held in 1992. Further proposals for Senate reform have not met with success, either, especially due to opposition in Ontario and Quebec, the two provinces with the most to lose due to equal representation.

Recent developments

Party positions

Today, the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois both call for the Senate's abolition. Principles policies and electoral achievement The NDP grew from populist, agrarian and democratic socialist roots The Bloc Québécois ( BQ) is a federal political party in Canada that defines itself as devoted to both the protection of Quebec's interests on a federal Although the Liberal party has no formal policy for Senate reform, former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin had stated that he "supports" Senate reform if the provinces are more involved in the process and if it does not "create greater inequality". The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political Paul Edgar Philippe Martin. PC, MP (also known as Paul Martin Jr Some have stated that the issue of Senate reform would have been the litmus test for Martin's policy on western Canada.

The Conservative Party has committed itself to appointing elected senators, although Prime Minister Stephen Harper recommended an unelected person, Quebecer Michael Fortier, for appointment to the Senate after forming his first Cabinet. The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Honorific prefixes --> Stephen Joseph Harper PC This article is about the Canadian politician For the Oklahoma City Bombing informant see Michael Fortier (American. ^[12] In 2007, Harper recommended the appointment of Bert Brown, who was elected in Alberta's senator in waiting election. Bert Brown (born March 22, 1938) is a current Canadian Senator and retired farmer and development consultant currently residing in Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 The 3rd Alberta Senate nominee election was held on November 22, 2004 in conjunction with the Alberta general election 2004. ^[13] Prime Minister Harper has stated that the senate "must either change or—like the old upper houses of our provinces—vanish". ^[14]

Harper has also promised further reforms beyond electing senators, including limits on how long each senator may sit. ^[15] To that effect, on May 30, 2006, the government introduced Bill S-4 in the Senate, which would amend the Constitution Act, 1867 to limit the term of a newly appointed senator to eight years. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It also provides that current senators may serve out their term to age 75. While appearing before a Senate committee, Harper announced that in the fall of 2006, the government would introduce a bill to allow Canadians to elect senators. ^[16] This bill was announced on December 13, 2006. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[17] S-4 died at the end of the first parliamentary session, but was reintroduced with modifications as C-19 in the second session. ^[18]

The federal government also introduced Bill C-43 for "the consultation of the electors. . . in relation to the appointment of senators". ^[17] "Pending the pursuit of a constitutional amendment. . . to provide for a means of direct election" the elected candidates will not automatically become senators; they will be presented to the prime minister who retains the choice of whom to recommend to be appointed senator. According to the bill, these "consultations" should be held together with federal or provincial legislative elections (ss. 12–13). ^[19] The bill makes no changes in the distribution of seats among the provinces. The bill died at the end of the first parliamentary session, but was reintroduced in the second as Bill C-20. ^[20]

Provincial positions

The premiers of four provinces have voiced support for the abolition of the senate: Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty,^[21] British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. Dalton James Patrick McGuinty Jr MPP (born July 19, 1955, in Ottawa Ontario) is a Canadian lawyer and politician

Murray-Austin amendment

On June 22, 2006, Senator Lowell Murray (PC-Ontario) and Senator Jack Austin (Liberal-British Columbia) introduced an amendment to the Constitution of Canada to alter the makeup of the Senate. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Lowell Murray, PC (born 26 September 1936) in New Waterford, Nova Scotia, Canada is a Senator and long time The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec For the Australian Rules Football player see Jack Austin (footballer. The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's Constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions ^[22] This amendment would enlarge the Senate to one hundred and seventeen members, giving a greater number to the western provinces of British Columbia (12), Alberta (10), Saskatchewan (7), and Manitoba (7), each up from 6. The amendment would also increase the number of divisions to five by separating British Columbia into its own division, and increase the number of additional Senators the Queen can appoint to five or ten, from four or eight. TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of Austin, in a letter to BC Premier Gordon Campbell claims to have the support of a majority of the members of the Liberal-dominated Senate. The Premier of British Columbia is the First minister, Head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province Gordon Campbell may refer to Gordon Campbell Baron Campbell of Croy, Scottish Conservative and Unionist politician Secretary of State for Scotland 1970–1974 ^[23]

The amendment was debated on June 27 and June 28, 2006 and then sent to a special committee on Senate Reform. Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. That committee considered the amendment and, on October 26, 2006, endorsed it. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The matter has been before the Senate since that time and, on December 11, 2006, Conservative Senator David Tkachuk proposed an amendment to the proposed constitutional amendment that would provide for twenty-four Senators for British Columbia. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. David Tkachuk (born February 18 1945) is a member of the Canadian Senate. This amendment was seconded by Liberal Senator Larry Campbell. Larry W Campbell (born February 28 1948, in Brantford Ontario) is the former Mayor of Vancouver

Current composition

See also: List of Canadian senators and Party Standings in the Canadian Senate

(as of February 6, 2008)

Note:

¹ The Conservatives control government business in the Senate due to holding the most seats in the House of Commons. This is a list of current members of the Canadian Senate. Currently there are sixteen vacancies in the Senate four in Quebec, three in British Columbia Members of the Canadian Senate can choose to sit as representatives of a political party. The Conservative Party of Canada ( Parti conservateur du Canada) colloquially known as the " Tories " is a conservative The Liberal Party of Canada ( Parti libéral du Canada) colloquially known as the Grits (originally " Clear Grits " is a major Canadian political The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ( PC) ( Parti progressiste-conservateur du Canada) ( 1867 – 2003) was a Canadian Principles policies and electoral achievement The NDP grew from populist, agrarian and democratic socialist roots Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common

² Senator Raymond Lavigne was suspended from the Liberal Caucus on June 6, 2006 after allegations that he misused Senate funds for personal use but he still identifies himself as a Liberal Senator. Raymond Lavigne (born November 16 1945) is a Canadian Senator. Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

³ When the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada in 2004, all but three Progressive Conservative Senators became Conservative Senators. Two additional Senators who have chosen to sit as "Progressive Conservatives" were appointed on the recommendation of Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin, over one year after the merger occurred. One of the five remaining Progressive Conservative senators died in December 2005, and another joined the Conservative caucus in March 2006 bringing the total to three.

⁴ Self-designation by Senator Lillian Dyck. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck (born August 24 1945 in North Battleford Saskatchewan) is a Canadian senator from Saskatchewan. The New Democratic Party opposes appointments to the Senate and does not recognize Senator Dyck as a representative of the NDP or as a member of its parliamentary caucus.

⁵ Senator Anne Cools was removed from Conservative caucus for speaking out against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and for voting against the 2007 budget. Anne Clare Cools (born August 12 1943) is a member of the Canadian Senate. The The Parliament of Canada Web Site lists her as Non-Aligned Senator.

⁶ Vacant seats: Newfoundland and Labrador (1), New Brunswick (1), Nova Scotia (3), Prince Edward Island (1), Quebec (2), Ontario (2), Yukon (1), British Columbia (3)

Source: The Parliament of Canada Web Site - Party Standings in the Senate

See also

• List of Canadian senators
• List of Canadian senators who resigned and were elected to the House of Commons
• Speaker of the Canadian Senate
• Leader of the Government in the Senate (Canada)
• Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)
• Canadian Senate divisions
• Monarchy of Canada
• List of Canadian Senate appointments by Prime Minister
• Canadian Senate Page Program

Notes

References

• Department of Justice. (2004). Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982.
• Forsey, Eugene. (2003). "How Canadians Govern Themselves."
• The Parliament of Canada. Official Website.
• A Legislative and Historical Overview of the Canadian Senate

Bibliography

• Franco, Guida (2006). Canadian Almanac & Directory 2006. Toronto: Micromedia ProQuest, 3-42. ISBN 1-895021-90-1.