Does an elected Senate mean legislative gridlock?
I am often asked, during my travels across Canada, if an elected Senate wouldn’t lead to gridlock with the House of Commons. My answer is always no. Political scientist Dr. David Elton – professor emeritus of the University of Lethbridge, where he was a faculty member for 27 years, and President from 1980 to 1997 of the Canada West Foundation – has provided us with one example of a simple but powerful override process that would maintain, in the end, the supremacy of the House of Commons. The “Elton Override” is a straightforward four-step process that would apply when a simple majority of the Commons passes a bill. As at present, the bill would be referred to the Senate for passage or suggested amendments. What would happen next? The Senate – this time made up of elected Senators – would either amend or veto the bill if a majority of senators were opposed to it becoming law, just as they do now. The Senate would then send the bill back to the House of Commons with its objections or ou
