Sask. government moves forward with Senate election legislation
Last Updated: Monday, November 17, 2008 | 3:49 PM CT
CBC News
The Saskatchewan government has introduced legislation that would let people select who they want to represent them in the Senate.
Under the Senate nominee election act, introduced Monday in the Saskatchewan legislature, the names of successful candidates in a Saskatchewan Senate election would be referred to the Privy Council in Ottawa to be considered for appointment.
Senate elections could be held two ways, Saskatchewan Justice Minister Don Morgan said.
"It could be done either at a time set by order-in-council [cabinet] or in conjunction with a provincial election," Morgan said. "We're looking at cost aspects, but it could be done as a stand-alone and it would produce a rank-ordered series of candidates, and those candidates' names would go forward to the prime minister to select."
Under the Constitution, the Senate is not an elected body. The prime minister recommends the names of senators to be appointed by the Governor General.
However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he'll respect the results of provincial elections.
So far, Alberta is the only province that has held Senate elections.
Saskatchewan is entitled to six senators in the 105-member upper chamber. Currently, there is an opening in the upper chamber.
Len Gustafson recently turned 75 — the mandatory age at which one must retire from the Senate.
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