Does Canada need a Senate? Prominent politicians weigh in

Liberal Senator and retired Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire appears on Canada AM, Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

What exactly does the Senate do for Canadians? Is it still relevant or is it a constitutional relic?

Many Canadians appear to be divided on the issue and it seems the same can be said for some prominent politicians.

Senator Romeo Dallaire says the power of Prime Minister Stephen Harper reveals the critical need for the Senate’s existence.

“You need a Senate now more than any other time I can remember, with a government so centrally structured,” says the retired general.

But Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter holds the opposite view, pointing to the province’s history to make his point.

“We had a Senate in Nova Scotia. We haven’t had one since 1928,” he says. “I’ve been canvassing since 16 years. I have never had anyone ask me to replace it.”

While Dallaire supports the existence of the Senate, he says it needs to be modified, and should include changes in term limits as well as regional representation.

“You need an apprenticeship to work in that place, so national scale of thought, so I say 12 years, that’s reasonable. That’s enough.”

“It’s almost a Canadian joke,” says Dexter. “Every radio talk show host is hoping the phone will ring some day. Duffy won the lottery on that.”

However, Dexter says that if the country wants a Senate and wants reform, he wants to be a part of it, and says it should be an elected Senate.

“If you’re going to have legitimacy, you have to have some electoral process,” he says.

But Dallaire disagrees.

“I say no to elected. We’re meeting the democratic requirement because the prime minister is elected democratically.”

However, both Dexter and Dallaire say if there is an elected Senate, it will create problems similar to those seen in the United States.

“Do you want to two groups of guys going at each other in the election, and then going at each other in Ottawa, fighting for who’s got the real power?” asks Dallaire.

“You see what happens when you get to the point where the executive administration of the country, health care, fire, police, every organization funded by government grinds to a halt because the Senate and the house can’t agree on budget bills,” says Dexter.

Dexter says he would not accept a Senate appointment after his days as premier are over, even if asked.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Rick Grant