On real democratic reform

I've discussed many times the likely futility of trying to tinker with Canada's Constitution. But with Dalton McGuinty suddenly taking up the longtime call of the federal NDP by declaring that he's like to see the Senate abolished, is there actually a chance to reach agreement to eliminate the upper chamber?

Ontario's premier says it's time to either abolish – or change – the Senate since it does not adequately represent his province.

"My preference is that we eliminate the Senate," Dalton McGuinty said Thursday night in Toronto after attending an Ontario Liberal party event.

Naturally, the reasons for wanting to get rid of the Senate will vary. McGuinty's argument is based on Ontario's lack of representation by population, while the NDP position is based more on eliminating patronage and waste. And Stephen Harper, who would likely have to take the lead role in seeking consensus, may well be stirred to action to overcome the Liberal dominance of the chamber.

Of course, all the reasons for wanting to be rid of the Senate have been around for ages. The question now is whether the country's leaders can reach a consensus on the issue without dragging other constitutional amendments into the picture. And it's the latter factor which appears to be the more difficult: while it's hard to see much basis for anybody mounting a strong defence of the Senate on principle (though the federal Libs might try in order to preserve their influence), it's far more likely that the process could be torpedoed by provinces making extra demands in exchange for their support.

That said, at the very least the need for the Senate is properly coming into question. And the more attention the upper chamber receives, the more likely it is that Canada's leaders will finally decide we're better off without it.