The Supreme Court will hold hearings in November on Ottawa's plan to reform the Senate. Federal, provincial, and territorial governments have provided the court with opinions on the constitutionality of term limits, elected senators, property requirements, and abolition.
Bill C-7 would see the provinces and territories hold elections to produce a list of Senate nominees for the prime minister. Provinces wouldn’t be required to participate, and any submitted names would not be binding. The prime minister would still make the final recommendation to the Governor General, who has the constitutional responsibility to appoint senators.
Also, new senators would be restricted to one nine-year term, or automatic retirement on their 75th birthday. The term is not renewable, and would not start over if interrupted, such as when Senators Fabian Manning and Larry Smith resigned in 2011 to unsuccessfully seek election to the House of Commons.
The retirement age would remain 75, regardless of when the Senator was appointed.
►Here is the federal government's submission, which argues Parliament could decide on abolition without unanimous provincial consent:
Government Factum on Senate Reform by 247politics
►Most provinces and territories made submissions to the Supreme Court, with challenges to the notion that the Senate can be abolished or introduced to term limits by Parliament alone:
Alberta - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Manitoba submission to Supreme Court - Senate Reform by 247politics
New Brunswick - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Newfoundland and Labrador - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Northwest Territories - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Nova Scotia - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Nunavut - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Ontario - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Pricne Edward Island - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Quebec - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
Saskatchewan - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
►Two Liberal senator also submitted briefs:
Anne Marie Cools - Senate reform
Serge Joyal - Supreme Court reference on Senate reform
-Andrew Thomson
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