The Senate & the Provinces.

The article focuses on the historical and structural challenges of seat distribution in the Senate of Canada, arguing that the current system neither fairly represents regions, provinces, nor citizens. It traces the Senate’s origins in regional equality compromises from Confederation in 1867, highlighting how population shifts and provincial distinctiveness have rendered the original regional model obsolete. The author proposes reform principles emphasizing a shift from regional to provincial representation, balancing provincial equality with representation by population through a formula of “degressive proportionality” that adjusts seats automatically based on census data. The article also discusses political and constitutional challenges to reform, suggesting that a durable, rational formula combined with potential Senate elections could enhance legitimacy and address longstanding inequities.