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For over two decades our politics was distracted by demands for Senate reform. Now its abolition is all the rage.

The demand that the Senate should be made many, many times more expensive than it is and play a large and allegedly necessary role in our government has been replaced by the demand that it be abolished as a useless expense.

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Many may say: “If it can’t be reformed, it should be abolished.” But legally it would be more difficult to abolish than to reform.

My own position has been the reverse. As it might be reformed it were better abolished, as all the suggested reforms are stupid.

All our politicians have offered us has been mindless posturing: Stephen Harper’s fitful feints at reform. Justin Trudeau’s fatuous decree that Senate Liberals are no longer Liberals. Tom Mulcair’s mission impossible abolition.

The demand that the Senate should be made many, many times more expensive than it is and play a large and allegedly necessary role in our government has been replaced by the demand that it be abolished as a useless expense.

The only responsible route to abolition would be by referendum. It should be possible to whip up a strong majority in favour of abolition. But the Constitution cannot be amended by referendum. All provincial governments have to consent. And the provincial governments would likely want to exact a price for their consent. So simply abolishing the Senate would not be so simple.