Premiers Come Out Against Senate Reform at Summit

The PM might be able to steamroll Senate reform bills through Parliament, but he faces a roadblock from the provinces.

Canada's premiers seem set on holding up Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Senate reform plans, after a number of them spoke out against reform during the premiers' summit in Vancouver. Ontario Premier (well, at least for another couple months) Dalton McGuinty and P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz both told the Toronto Star at the summit that they're not keen on allowing the federal government to impose new Senate rules, such as holding provincial elections for Senators and introducing term limits, without reopening constitution talks, which no one really wants. Some premiers, like McGuinty, simply want the Senate abolished, and Quebec Premier Jean Charest has threatened to launch a court challenge if the reform measures are passed.