Abolish the Senate

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    Open Government, Government of Canada. (2018, March 7). Abolish the Senate. Retrieved from http://open.canada.ca/en/idea/abolish-senate
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    “Abolish the Senate.” Open Government, Government of Canada, 7 March 2018, http://open.canada.ca/en/idea/abolish-senate
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Votes: 392

Senators are not elected and serve until retirement, yet they can defeat bills that the people have approved in the House of Commons. This is a terrible, undemocratic way of governance and must be abolished.

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Comments

Submitted by Nancy O'Neill on April 06, 2022 - 7:39 PM

The Senate is old and archaic and is no longer needed, I proposed a complete restructuring, of the government systems in Canada (Abolishment to bring Freedoms and Equalities back to the people.

This is only for those in positions of Government and with the passing of lineage. It needs to be stopped.

Submitted by Tired Canadian on February 23, 2022 - 9:34 PM

Michael MacDonald is the latest senator to be an embarrassment [redacted for violation of the Rules of Engagement]. We didn't vote for him, in fact we in Nova Scotia didn't vote for him 4 times, yet her he is.

Submitted by Kyle on February 23, 2022 - 8:58 PM

No need for this type of office. We the people of Canada need an open government not a closed one. The government's believe they follow the best interest of all Canadians that is an absolute lie.

Submitted by Carl Weisser on February 23, 2022 - 6:51 PM

The Senate is an affront to an elected parliament, which adds no value, delays legislation, and produces cynicism of our democratic system.

Submitted by Peter Foran on February 13, 2022 - 9:14 PM

British Columbia’s fast growing population cannot be properly represented in the Senate per the Constitution. Given that Quebec and Atlantic provinces would not consider rebalancing or a new formula, abolition is the only option.

Submitted by larry on December 29, 2021 - 7:49 PM

thank you for the freedom

the senate is an undemocratic institution and should be abolished, or, at the very least, have their power drastically reduced (much akin to the house of lords in the uk, unable to block legislation voted on by the commons)

Submitted by Gerald Himelfarb on December 17, 2021 - 2:02 PM

Have Senators only serve for a maximum of 2 4 years terms. It works fine in Australia, a country very similar to Canada.
(P.S.-remove the "Telecom Act )

Submitted by Anonymous on December 06, 2021 - 8:35 PM

bad

Submitted by Lil on December 02, 2021 - 5:22 AM

The senate is a horrible place. Canada should abolish the senate or at least have senators elected.

Submitted by MEDDAH RIAD on November 03, 2021 - 2:15 AM

Le lithingue est un outil de travail de qualité et de service pour la plupart des entreprises et des établissements publics de santé publique territoriale en région du Québec à la foi en région Centre du Québec et dans le cadre de l'état du Canada dans le monde entier

Submitted by Anonymous on October 21, 2021 - 9:27 PM

ligma

Submitted by Anonymous on October 15, 2021 - 7:08 PM

I believe senators are chosen unfairly in the account of region, population. Some provinces have 24 and some have one and it is not based on culture or population or region unlike MP's.

Submitted by Levon on October 18, 2021 - 4:22 PM

Instead of Justin Trudeau wasting money on elections like the one that just happened he could’ve used that money for better services. He wasted over 600 million for nothing come on man think about the people who get nothing and barely survive and you just waste money like that. 😤

Submitted by gore on October 08, 2021 - 6:28 PM

no cap

Submitted by Barbara Weppler on October 07, 2021 - 3:41 PM

I believe the use of the Senate is useful - it helps with checks and balances HOWEVER; IT SHOULD BE AN ELECTED senate.
It is undemocratic in it's current form.

Submitted by Bro on September 23, 2021 - 1:32 AM

Shouldn't the Senate be elected by each province, instead of being elected by the prime minister? At least this way there will actually be a choice for the people that are being represented, not a parties friends.

Submitted by Peter Mitsikas on September 22, 2021 - 1:59 PM

As an Australian living in Canada i find your senate utterly perplexing. Back home our senators are elected on the basis of proportional representation. Put simply, if 10% of a province votes for the PPC in the senate then 10% of the senators from that province will be from the PPC, it's a pretty fair system. Most telling though is both sides of politics generally loath the senate which tells me the system is clearly working. Canada could really use a proper 'house of review', the current state of affairs is plainly undemocratic.

Submitted by Michael McDavid on September 20, 2021 - 4:17 PM

Where wealthy and powerful people can be handpicked by the PM to interfere in the democratic process by holding up bills that have been passed by elected officials and make $175,000 a year with lifetime benefits that most Canadians will never have the pleasure of enjoying. Abolish the Senate and give Canadians their hard earned tax dollars back.

Submitted by Dee Snuts on September 14, 2021 - 4:17 PM

i really like the senates cause they make canada canada. they are there for a reason to. like all the laws they make sure there is no bad law and they take a sencond look

Submitted by Dan Reynolds on September 13, 2021 - 7:50 PM

imagine dragons would not approve 🙅‍♀️🙅‍♀️ don't need to be canadian to have an opinion

Submitted by William Lylack on September 12, 2021 - 3:39 PM

Senators are appointed for life. This is an undemocratic body of government and essentially politically rewards for performance. It rarely, if ever, defeats bills and many members are notoriously absent from their daily duties. It is an irrelevant part of Canadian governance and should be abolished.

Submitted by Shane Graham on August 30, 2021 - 8:29 PM

There is no logic or reason to senators being chosen by a prime minister and serving life terms from arbitrary regions. remove the senate.

Submitted by bob frutz on July 31, 2021 - 10:09 PM

All senators need to be elected, solely by the province they represent, there must be equal representation by province,
4 senators per province and 1 per territory, also a President and a Vice President of the senate - elected Canada wide on one ticket.
Therefore, 45 senators that are all elected and accountable to their electorate, instead of well over 100 current senators that are unelected, unaccountable and patronage appointments!

Submitted by robert spooner on February 11, 2022 - 2:35 PM

I agree with with your thoughts on the quantity of "senators" required to oversee and act as a safety net to our house of commons. ( who keeps watch on the senators?)The present format is an abomination and was instituted in Canada to resemble the house of "LORDS" in England. The only difference is we pay these senators whereas the LORDS are not remunerated directly. ( Perks)
The following are some interesting costs associated to our senators
Net cost for fIscal 2019-20 $114,400,000.
Basic salary $ 160,800.
Each senators yearly allowance for research and office expenses $150,000. --- and the costs go on and on
As a snippet: committee chairs are paid an additional $ 12,800. yearly. Last year , two senators who chaired a committee met twice during the year, spent less than 15 MINUTES per meeting and were paid $12,800.
I will let you draw your own thoughts on this total waste of OUR taxes