Maritime provinces to intervene on Senate reform

All three Maritime provincial governments have decided to intervene in a Supreme Court case on Senate reform.

Earlier this year the Harper government asked the court to rule on whether various options for Senate reform are constitutional.

Democratic Reform Minister Tim Uppalannounced last month that Ottawa would seek clarificationfrom the Supreme Court on its powers to reform or abolish the Senate.

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia andPrince Edward Island said theyall plan to file their own arguments, but they're not representing a united front.

The three Maritime provinces have yet to formally file their legal arguments but P.E.I. has talked about pushing for equal representation for all provinces.Nova Scotia said it wants the Senate abolished and New Brunswick's government has introduced a bill to establish Senate elections.

UPEI political scientist Peter McKenna said New Brunswicks bill could be undermined by whatever the Supreme Court rules.

"In a way New Brunswick to me has put the cart before the horse," he said.

The Supreme Court has scheduled three days of hearings on the case in November.

However, if senators are elected McKenna said reform carries a risk because larger provinces could become impatient with the Maritimes' over-representation in a suddenly more influential Upper House.

The latest Harris Decima survey found 32 per cent of Canadians polled believe the Senate should be done away with. That's up from 27 per cent responding to a similar poll in 2010.