Canadian Prime Minister Supports NDP Call for Senate Referendum

Canada's Prime Minister has agreed to support the call for a referendum on the future of the Senate that was put forward by NDP leader Jack Layton. This means Canadians could see the referendum on the ballot in the October 2009 election.

Ottawa: The Prime Minister has agreed to support the NDP’s call for a referendum on the abolition of the Senate when the next Canadian federal election is called. The election is scheduled to be held on Oct. 19, 2009 and apparently the PM’s agreement came after private talks between Harper and the NDP leader Jack Layton. The NDP motion for the referendum will be tabled in the House of Commons, very soon and the PM is certain of the support of his party for this vote. Harper has called for Senate reform and has introduced legislation that would limit Senators to a maximum term of eight years. If the Tories and the NDP vote together the proposal will pass the house and then will move onto the Senate which is still a Liberal dominated body. "It's undemocratic because (senators) are appointed by prime ministers, who then are turfed out of office," Layton said "But these senators end up leaving a long shadow of their continued presence in the legislative context." "Why don't we start by finding out how Canadians feel about it? That seems to be a democratic approach." The liberal government in the province of Quebec does not support any plan to abolish the Senate and it is not likely to gain any favour in the Atlantic Provinces which have strong representation there. The Senate has 105 members who are, appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister. All the seats are assigned on a regional basis, with each region receiving 24 seats. To become a senator the candidate must be at least 30 years old and can hold their seat until they are 75. Senators are paid more than $100,000 a year, not including pensions and benefits.