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The law of unintended consequences looms large for all policy-makers. From Prohibition to the introduction of cane toads in Australia, the apparent solution to a problem has often made the problem worse.

The Trudeau government has its own experience with best-laid schemes that go pear-shaped.

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The idea to open up the Senate appointment process by installing only senators independent of a party whip satisfied the Liberals’ pre-election interests. But in this majority parliament, the Senate has emerged as the only effective check on Liberal power.

The Senate gave notice to the government last fall that it was not prepared to be a doormat for the House of Commons, when it sent back the assisted-dying bill with major amendments.

But the realization the Senate now has the power to thwart the Liberal legislative agenda — There are 42 independent senators, 41 Conservatives and 21 Liberals — really only came in December when, in a move that passed with little comment, the Liberals were forced to amend their own budget-implementation bill in the face of an insurrection led by an independent senator they appointed, André Pratte.