The Senate And The People Of Canada

This book addresses the highly contentious subject of Canadian Senate reform. Its conclusions reject conventional recommendations and argue that the Senate should remain an appointed body with a more expansive appointment process and restrained powers.

This first in-depth analysis of Canada's Senate in 40 years.

This little book is written for Canadians who care about our democracy and the future of our planet. The Senate, surprisingly, could make major contributions to both. A People’s Senate for Canada explains how we can make that happen. What if we had a Senate that was independent of party politics, truly committed to “sober second thought” and dedicated to the common good? What if Senate appointments focused on experience, integrity and creativity, and flowed from a non-partisan participatory process based on merit and reflective of our country’s diversity? What if senators were able to fully devote themselves to their proper legislative and investigative work, cooperating wherever possible, free of party control and electoral worries, and financially accountable to the Auditor General? As Helen Forsey demonstrates, such a People’s Senate would not require risky and questionable constitutional amendments: the needed changes could be made within the present framework. In fact, some hopeful initiatives are already under way. A People’s Senate for Canada combines grassroots experience, thorough research and critical commentary to create a people’s resource for positive change. This book offers a rationale, an analysis and a feasible proposal for an upper house that would restore citizen participation and help check government power. It is an antidote to cynicism and a prescription for a truly honourable Senate, one that would make us proud.

Since 1967, the centennial of Confederation, numerous political crises, economic challenges, and international events have helped to transform Canadian society, and will continue to shape its future. Taking these various challenges and opportunities of the past into account, how does the future look for Canada? In Reflecting on Our Past and Embracing Our Future diplomats, politicians, scientists, and human rights leaders including Phil Fontaine, Michaëlle Jean, Ellen Gabriel, Paul Heinbecker, Bob Rae, Jean Charest, and David Suzuki have come together to share their wisdom and experience of events that have marked the country over the last fifty years. Reflecting on the role of the Senate in Canada as complementary to the House of Commons, they consider central issues such as the condition of indigenous peoples, the obligations of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the recognition of two official languages, and the national unity referendums. Contributors also discuss the transformation of the economy in a globalized and digital world, the role of Canada on the world stage at a time of growing tension and an increasing flow of refugees, climate change and the uncertain future of the Arctic, scientific and cultural competitions on the international market, and the future of parliamentary democracy. Correcting misconceptions about the contemporary role of the Senate, and providing a counterargument for radical Senate reform, Reflecting on Our Past and Embracing Our Future offers rich perspectives and fascinating insights about Canada's likely development in the coming years.

This reference book is primarily a procedural work which examines the many forms, customs, and practices which have been developed and established for the House of Commons since Confederation in 1867. It provides a distinctive Canadian perspective in describing procedure in the House up to the end of the first session of the 36th Parliament in Sept. 1999. The material is presented with full commentary on the historical circumstances which have shaped the current approach to parliamentary business. Key Speaker's rulings and statements are also documented and the considerable body of practice, interpretation, and precedents unique to the Canadian House of Commons is amply illustrated. Chapters of the book cover the following: parliamentary institutions; parliaments and ministries; privileges and immunities; the House and its Members; parliamentary procedure; the physical & administrative setting; the Speaker & other presiding officers; the parliamentary cycle; sittings of the House; the daily program; oral & written questions; the process of debate; rules of order & decorum; the curtailment of debate; special debates; the legislative process; delegated legislation; financial procedures; committees of the whole House; committees; private Members' business; public petitions; private bills practice; and the parliamentary record. Includes index.