e would be 6 representatives from each and every provincewhile the territories had one each. This would provide for a new 62 member Senate which would be elected at the same time as Members of Parliament. The only exception would be Quebec where Senators would be hand-chosen by the National Assembly.The principle of equality simply means that every province or region would be equally represented in the Senate regardless of its population. The need for equal representation arises when provinces like Ontario are compared to Prince Edward Island, Since Ontario's population is so huge compared to many other provinces, it along with Quebec could automatically become the majority in the Commons when their interests were similar. The comparison between Ontarioand Prince Edward Island might be a bit extreme, but what it really equates to is that Alberta and other provinces cannot have the same powers as Ontario and Quebec. With equal representation, no province would have to worry about being outvoted by such a wide margin that the interests of the citizens were completely ignored.The Government of Canada stresses the importance in strengthening the role of the Senate in representing people from all parts of the country. Equal representation allows the Parliament to speak and act with greater authority on behalf of all Canadians. Meanwhile, a delicate equilibrium must be established if the Senate's role in regional representation is to be upgraded while maintaining the effectiveness of Parliament.At the time of its creation, the Senate was assigned extensive formal authority and with only two qualifications, it would be equal in power to the House of Commons. Not until recently were limitations placed on the Upper Chamber's powers as a result of constitutional amendments. However, even today, no federal legislation can be passed until it has been passed by majorities inboth the Senate and the House of Commons. The problem of the pres...
