Senate reform and francophone minorities.

This article looks at recent government proposals for Senate reform and focuses on the impact these proposals could have on the representation of francophone minority communities in the Senate. The study looks at the Senate's historical and constitutional context and its role in order to analyze the representation Canada's francophone minority communities have traditionally had in the Senate. Using international comparisons with other federal and multinational states, the article offers insights on the best ways to reform the Senate, if necessary, so that it can continue adequately representing francophone minority communities.

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Walter Bagehot, an English journalist who wrote about the British parliamentary system, said, "If we had an ideal House of Commons ... it is certain we should not need a higher Chamber." The Canadian Senate is a necessary and useful institution, and yet it is today probably one of the least well understood institutions in the country.

How many Canadians have asked, "But what does the Senate do?", or "Do we really need a Senate and senators?", or "Why aren't senators elected, just like MPs?" These are serious questions that constitute starting points for the debate on Senate reform in Canada.

Current Context and Recent Reforms

After a number of years Senate reform is on the agenda again. On May 30, 2006, the government introduced in the Senate Bill S-4, limiting senators' terms to eight years. The bill, which became C-19 in the subse...

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