Evaluating Arguments: The Abolition of the Canadian Senate Debate

This essay presents a balanced argument regarding the abolition of the Canadian Senate. It explores the reasons for maintaining the Senate, such as its role in reflecting regional interests and safeguarding the party in power in the House of Commons, while also detailing arguments for abolition, including its perceived undemocratic nature, inefficiency, and limited power. The essay references various sources to support both sides of the debate, ultimately concluding with an opinion that favors abolishing the Senate due to its perceived lack of purpose and contribution to Canadian governance. The author contends that the Senate has outlived its usefulness and that its functions, such as double-checking and approving laws, are no longer essential. Desklib offers more solved assignments and past papers for students.

Running Head: CANADIAN SENATE 1
A Debate on the Abolition of the Senate in Canada
Name
Institution

CANADIAN SENATE 2
The Senate should not be abolished. The most welcoming technique would have an
elected reform, by utilization of the proportional regional representation whereby each district
will have two electoral districts. During the time of the second federal election, the ballot boxes
will be extended so that each citizen will have the chance to choose their senator. The senator
candidates will be required to register with Elections Canada. The senators are expected to serve
the citizens for at most two terms. The Senate needs a serious refurbishment. Canada is a country
with a big size, and hence there is a need for a chamber that would be reflecting all regions more
than just the regions that are more populated (Kyle, 2013). The job (reflection job) would be
most suitable for senators. The current procedure involved in the selection of the Senate
members only gives lip service to that perception. However, any major alterations will cause the
regional animosities that are not present or that are always acting below the surface (Bryan,
2013). In this case, the government of Canada will not at any given a chance open the can of
worms to the citizens. The senate also safeguards the party that possesses the most seats in the
House of Commons. The senate cannot control bills that are passed and hence it should not be
abolished without basic reasoning.
The Senate in Canada Should Be Abolished
The current system in Canada is so much worn out and under democratic. However, the
system encourages partisanship and haste in the lower house. The latter is obvious to many
people but the most opinionated flunkies (Omar , 2013). The latter leaves the abolition or
democratization as the only alternatives that are more or less acceptable. Abolition is more
pleasing and acceptable for this case. Abolition is straightforward and will also lead to a
reduction in inefficiency (Nadia , 2015). It will also lead to increased accountability and the
provision of limited opportunities for deception than for the case of an elected senate. Most of

CANADIAN SENATE 3
the provincial legislature perform well unicameral. The provinces that are less populous will go
on being overrepresented, and the Canadian federation will continue being decentralized. The
latter will be a very vital move in the improvement of the quality of political life as far as the
political life in Canada is concerned.
Opinion
Canada should abolish the Senate. The Senate has been noted to hurt the institutions that it was
formed to support. There is no essence of paying 105 senators to perform the duties of the
official opposition. The Senate should also be abolished because they do not possess a lot of
power in the House of Commons. I feel that if the Senate is abolished, the feeling that Senate is a
creature of the nationally elected government which does not represent the views of the
provincial level at the national legislative level will be abolished. In addition to this, the Senate
also adds nothing and has outlived its purpose.it has very little or no power in the government.
The only thing that the senate does is only double-checking, editing and approving laws and
most laws nowadays need no change. It is therefore advisable to abolish the Senate.

CANADIAN SENATE 4
References
Bryan, L. (2013, March 3rd). Reminder of why the Canadian Senate should be abolished.
Retrieved from Sea ways News: https://www.cornwallseawaynews.com/opinion/letter-to-
the-editor/2010/3/22/reminder-of-why-the-canadian-senate-shou-936739.html
Kyle, E. (2013, March 8th). Why The Senate Should be abolished. Retrieved from Macleans:
https://www.macleans.ca/politics/why-the-senate-should-be-abolished/
Nadia , V. (2015, September 21st). The Senate: Should It Stay or Should It Go? Retrieved from
Policy Options: http://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/september-2015/the-future-of-
the-senate/the-senate-should-it-stay-or-should-it-go/
Omar , A. (2013, 11 16th). Should Canada Elect, Abolish or Reform the Senate? Retrieved from
Huff Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/omar-alghabra/senate-reform_b_4268401.html