It is a tantalizing question for Conservatives especially today when it appears the Liberal Leader, Justin Trudeau, is expressing fondness for the unelected Senate because it is a bulwark of support for Quebec versus Canada. Mr. Trudeau is quoted in Montreal over the weekend as saying, “We have 24 senators from Quebec and there are just six from Alberta and six from British Columbia. That’s to our advantage.” The remark has Albertans raging and many Tories in Ottawa expressing similar anger. But perhaps they are chuckling behind their hands. The appointed Senate has traditionally been a target of popular dislike in Canada. That does not seem to have changed. Some people note that if the Senate were abolished, Canada would be one of the few countries in the democratic world with a so-called unicameral (or one-house) legislature. But there are some notable ones and they are eminent democracies too. New Zealand dumped its upper house in the 1950s because like Canada’s senate, it was unelected. Sweden also ditched it’s upper house. Interestingly, the Swedes had an elected upper house which was constantly warring with the more popular lower house. Sounds like the U.S. Finally enough was enough and Sweden has gotten along just fine for more than 50 years with a unicameral legislature. If the so-called Red Chamber were renovated it would make a very nice meeting room.
