Scroll below for the Manitoba government's submission to the Supreme Court on Senate reform. Greg Selinger's NDP government has called for the Senate's abolition, deeming the upper chamber "fundamentally flawed."
As for the federal government's reform options, Manitoba argues that:
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Parliament cannot unilaterally impose Senate term limits under the terms of the 1982 Constitution Act.
"Term limits would change the fundamental character of the Senate and would impact the provinces. As such the provinces must be involved in any constitutional amendments that would impose term limits on Senate appointments."
- Senate abolition requires unanimous provincial consent, not the "7/50" amending formula (support of seven provinces with at least half of Canada's population).
Read the federal government's submission on Senate reform
Manitoba officials argue that: "There are no compelling reasons to depart from our nation’s tradition of respect for federalism. The difficulties presented by constitutional change are certainly not a reason. The failure to reach consensus on Senate reform in the past is certainly not a reason. A disinclination to engage the provinces is certainly not a reason."
The government believes believes Parliament could decide on abolition without unanimous provincial consent.
Manitoba submission to Supreme Court - Senate Reform
-Andrew Thomson
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