Dateline: 10/27/04
Alberta Pushes for Senate Reform
When Albertans go to the polls in the provincial election on November 22, 2004, they will not only be electing MLAs, they will also be choosing four Senators-in-waiting.
Alberta has long been an advocate of Senate reform in Canada and is the only province in Canada to select Senate nominees by voting. The 2004 election will be the third time since 1989 that Alberta has elected Senators-in-waiting, and the province will again ask the Prime Minister to fill Alberta's vacant seats in the Senate with provincial nominees. Alberta has six of the 105 seats allocated in the Senate. Three Alberta Senate seats are empty.
There's no saying these Senators-in-waiting will actually make it to the Senate though. Senate appointments in Canada are made by the Prime Minister, who has not agreed to choose from the provincial nominees. The only elected Senator appointed to the Canadian Senate was Stan Waters, appointed by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney in 1990.
In the 1998 Alberta general election, Ted Morton and Bert Brown were elected as Senators-in-waiting. Their six-year term ended September 20, 2004. In the 2004 election, Ted Morton is running for a seat in the legislative assembly, and Bert Brown is again running to be a Senator-in-waiting.
Alberta Election of Senators-in-Waiting
Nominations for the Senators-in-waiting election opened on September 29, 2004 and close November 14, 2004.
Candidates for the Senate nominee election can be independents or be affiliated with a registered political party. Prospective candidates for the Senate nominee election must get 1,500 signatures from eligible voters.
Each voter in the Alberta provincial election on November 22, 2004 will receive a second ballot with the names of Senate candidates. Voters can select up to four names. The Senators-in-waiting are not chosen by constituency. A common ballot listing all Senate candidates will be used across the province.
The cost of the election of Senators-in-waiting is estimated at $3 million, according to Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations.
Eligibility to Be a Canadian Senator
To be appointed to the Canadian Senate, a person must be
- at least 30 years old
- be a resident of the province or territory they represent
- own property worth at least $4000 in the province and have a personal net worth of at least $4000.
Role of Senators in Canada
The main role of Canadian Senators is to provide "sober, second thought" on the work done by the House of Commons in Canada. Canadian Senators examine and revise legislation initiated in the House of Commons, contribute to in-depth studies by Senate committees on issues of national concern, represent regional, provincial and minority interests and serve as watchdogs on government.
