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My impression is the Senate doesn't actually regularly reject bills. They have, but its few and far between. The Senate also isn't really independent as they're
by canadiantim 3y ago
My impression is the Senate doesn't actually regularly reject bills. They have, but its few and far between. The Senate also isn't really independent as they're appointed by party in power and vote in groups whipped by their leaders. Even recent development under Trudeau who "released" all liberal senators from being Liberal Senators such that now they sit as "independent" senators, but they all still vote in a one big block that votes exactly the same way as the liberal senator group, they just changed names. There are, however, a couple more splinter groups with specialized interests in the senate because of the shuffle, which is good to see, but by and large the Senate is very ineffective at being a check and balance. Mostly it's a rubber stamp process unless it's particularly egregious then it's a wrist slap asking for minor changes. Hence decades of debate on reforming or even abolishing the senate, which has been a mainstream debate for a long time and still ongoing.
- neom 3y agohttps://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/legislation/senateBillsNotPassed https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/legislation... Here's the data. Seems like they're doing a fine job to me.
- canadiantim 3y agoThe data backs up what I was saying. Very few bills are rejected by the senate. Most of what you are seeing are bills that died in place because parliament was either prorogued by the liberal government or an election was called resulting in the dissolution of parliament, not because the Senate actually rejected those bills.
- jvb1000 3y agoThe role of the senate in Canada is not to pass or reject bills. Their role is to make sure the bills are written coherently and accord with previous legislation. Think of them more like copy editors.
- canadiantim 3y agoI think you're right that's how the senate currently functions, but it was originally intended to be the chamber of "sober second thought", to quote John A MacDonald. I think the senate should have a purpose far greater than simply being copy editors