The Chamber of Sober Second Thought

 

Senator Richards illustrates the possible value of an appointed senate, and what it is supposed to be: wiser heads unconnected with electoral politics, able to take the long view. Peter Hitchens is a strong proponent of this view.

The Senate probably saved us from the Emergency Act after a few days. It might save us from C-11.

Perhaps the thing to do is to keep the Senate more or less as it is, but have Senators appointed not by the Prime Minister, but by the members of the Order of Canada. Governors-General and Lieutenant Governors could be similarly selected—as David Johnston was under Stephen Harper. One great advantage of this approach is that it would require no changes to the constitution or even necessarily any legislation.