andyt andyt:
The two don't seem to square.
It does not require a unanimous vote in the house to change the senate. To make major changes to it tho requires unanimous agreement of the provinces. Ie major changes are impossible.
I guess we need clarification since this statement can be construed on of two ways.
$1:
Canada’s original 1867 Constitution, the BNA Act. A government can’t pass legislation without the approval of all three parts of Parliament. So, absent a constitutional amendment unanimously approved by Ottawa and all 10 provinces, no government can govern without a Senate.
So maybe I interpreted it wrong and it's only the Provinces who have to be unanimous and a majority in the House can vote for it. But the easiest way to do it would be with a constitutional amendment.
$1:
Either by a constitutional amendment backed by at least seven provinces representing 50 per cent of the population, or one with unanimous provincial consent. Experts are split on which amending formula applies.
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/ ... of-canada/Besides we have this to contend with before anything can be done.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014 ... eform.html