Canadian Senate

The Senate (French: Sénat) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, which also includes the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the House of Commons. The Senate is an appointed body, consisting of 105 members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senate seats are divided among the provinces in such a way that Ontario, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, and the Western provinces are equally represented. The number of seats for Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut are assigned apart from these regional divisions. Senators serve until they reach the age of seventy-five.

Relationship with the Government

Unlike the House of Commons, the Senate does not control the term of the Prime Minister or of the government. Only the Commons may force the Prime Minister to resign or call elections by passing a motion of no-confidence or by withdrawing supply. Thus, the Senate's oversight of the government is limited.

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Most Cabinet ministers are from the House of Commons, rather than the Senate. In particular, every Prime Minister has been a member of the House of Commons since 1896. Typically, the Cabinet includes only one Senator: the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Occasionally, when the governing party does not include any members from a particular region, Senators are appointed to ministerial positions in order to maintain regional balance in the Cabinet.

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