Calls to abolish the scandal-plagued Senate pointless, say experts

OTTAWA – Constitutional experts say calls by Saskatchewan’s premier and the federal Opposition to abolish the Senate are destined to go nowhere.

Premier Brad Wall’s Saskatchewan Party has voted by a margin of 86 per cent in a referendum to close the doors on the upper chamber of Parliament.

But University of Ottawa professor Errol Mendes says demands to close down the Senate are reactionary, and pointless.

Queen’s University emeritus political science professor Ned Franks also points out the Constitution requires the approval of seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the population to make any significant changes to the Senate.

And political leaders in Quebec and Ontario have indicated they aren’t interested in abolishing the red chamber.

Demands to either dramatically reform or abolish the Senate have become more pronounced recently as a scandal unfolds over allegations that a handful of senators misused public money by making improper housing or travel expense claims.