THE SENATE

LE S�NAT

History and Function / Histoire et R�le

The Senate of Canada was created by the Constitution Act, 1867, section 17, which provides that "There shall be One Parliament for Canada, consisting of the Queen, an Upper House styled the Senate and the House of Commons".

The 105 seats in the Senate are apportioned on a regional basis: 24 from the Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, 10; New Brunswick, 10; Prince Edward Island, 4); 24 from Quebec; 24 from Ontario and 24 from the Western provinces (Manitoba, 6; Saskatchewan, 6; Alberta, 6; British Columbia, 6). In addition, Newfoundland and Labrador have 6 seats and each of the Northwest …