Feds will ask the Supreme Court to vet its plans for Senate reform

OTTAWA – The Harper government will ask the Supreme Court of Canada to rule on the constitutionality of its Senate reform proposals.

Tim Uppal, minister of state for democratic reform, says the government will pose a number of questions about its plan to remake the upper chamber.

The justices will be asked about Senate term limits, elections at the national or provincial level to select Senate candidates and the possibility of abolishing the Senate entirely.

Senate reform has been a Conservative dream for years, but its legislation has never gotten through Parliament.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Senate appointees all favour reform.

Alberta holds elections for Senate candidates and Harper has named the winners to fill the province’s vacancies.