Senators

Senators

Process and Qualifications

• Senators are not elected.
  
  
• Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
  
  
• The Senate of Canada, the upper chamber of Canada's Parliament, has 105 Senators.
  
  
• Senators must be at least 30 years old and they must retire by age 75.
  
  
• Senators must live and own property in the Canadian province or territory they represent.
  
  

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Examine and revise legislation

• The main role of Senators is to provide "sober, second thought" on the bills (legislation) passed by the House of Commons.

• All federal legislation must be passed by the Senate as well as the House of Commons.

• Although the Senate rarely vetoes bills, it does have the power to do so. Senators review federal legislation clause by clause in Senate Committees and may send bills back to the House of Commons for amendment.

• The Senate can introduce its own bills, except for bills that impose taxes or spend public money ("money bills"). Senate bills must also be passed in the House of Commons before being given royal assent (signed by the Governor General).
  
  

2. Investigate national Canadian issues

• Senators contribute to studies by Senate Committees on public issues such as health care, illegal drugs, regulation of the Canadian airline industry, and urban Aboriginal youth.

• The reports from these investigations can lead to changes in federal public policy and legislation.

• The wide range of experience of Senators provides substantial expertise for these investigations. The present Senators include former provincial premiers, cabinet ministers, and business people from many economic sectors.

• Because Senators are not subject to the uncertainties of elections, they can track issues over longer periods than MPs can.
  
  

3. Represent regional, provincial, and minority interests

• Senate seats are distributed regionally: 24 each for the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, and Western regions; and 8 Senate seats for Newfoundland and the territories.

• Senators meet in regional party caucuses and consider the regional impact of legislation.

• Senators often adopt informal constituencies to represent the rights of groups and individuals who may otherwise be overlooked, such as young people, people with low incomes, seniors, and veterans.
  
  

4. Watchdog on government

• Senators provide a detailed review of all federal legislation.

• During the Senate Question Period, Senators also routinely question and challenge the Leader of the Government in the Senate on federal government policies and activities.

• Senators can draw important issues to the attention of Cabinet Ministers and the Prime Minister.
  
  

5. Party supporters

• A Senator usually supports a political party and may have a role in the operation of the party.

adapted from "Role of Canadian Senators" by Susan Munroe. About.com: Canada Online.
http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/parliament/a/rolesenators.htm (Accessed March 18, 2008).