February 12, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Canadian adults want to play a role in determining the members of the upper house, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 63 per cent of respondents support a proposal to allow Canadians to directly elect their senators.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many Canadian adults want to play a role in determining the members of the upper house, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 63 per cent of respondents support a proposal to allow Canadians to directly elect their senators.

In addition, 62 per cent of respondents believe appointed Canadian senators should be limited to an eight-year term, 37 per cent favour abolishing the Senate of Canada altogether, and 29 per cent would create a panel of distinguished Canadians to choose senators, instead of the prime minister.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January 2006. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

In May 2006, Harper introduced legislation to change the country’s electoral system. The bill presented by Harper—which was never ratified—would have affected the Senate of Canada, where members are currently appointed and can serve until they are 75 years old. Harper has promised to "create a process to choose elected senators."

In October 2006, Nova Scotia premier Rodney MacDonald endorsed some of the current federal government’s Senate reform proposals, saying, "I don’t think it’s reasonable to think a senator could go into the Senate perhaps at the age of 30 or in their 30s and be there until they’re 75. (...) We have some very committed individuals to the country and to our province, but at the same time, they should be elected."

Polling Data

As you may know, several proposals have been made over the past few years to reform the Senate of Canada, do you support or oppose each of these ideas?
("Support" answers only)

Allowing Canadians to directly elect their senator	63%
Limiting appointed Canadian senators to eight-year terms	62%
Abolishing the Senate of Canada altogether	37%
Creating a panel of distinguished Canadians to choose senators, instead of the prime minister	29%

Source: Angus Reid Strategies
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,019 Canadian adults, conducted from Jan. 15 to Jan. 16, 2008. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

 

Complete Poll (PDF)

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