The troubled Senate

The founders of Confederation gave the Senate the important role of protecting regional, provincial and minority interests. They assigned each region the same number of seats in order to guarantee them an equal voice in the Senate. Seats were added as new provinces and territories entered Confederation. Today, the Senate has 105 seats, distributed as follows:

• The Maritimes Division — 24

(New Brunswick — 10, Nova-Scotia — 10, Prince Edward Island — 4)

• The Ontario Division — 24

• The Quebec Division — 24

• The Western Division — 24 

(British Columbia — 6, Alberta — 6, Saskatchewan — 6, Manitoba — 6)

• Additional representation — 9 

(Newfoundland and Labrador — 6, Northwest Territories — 1,

Yukon Territory — 1, Nunavut — 1)

http://www.parl.gc.ca/SenatorsMembers.aspx?Language=E

http://globalnews.ca/video/580287/senate-problems

http://globalnews.ca/news/580105/did-you-know-five-members-of-the-canadian-senate-are-from-b-c/

http://globalnews.ca/news/577294/harper-promises-to-tighten-senate-expense-rules/

http://globalnews.ca/news/547443/audit-does-little-to-mute-senate-controversy/