It's very clear to the people of Canada what's being attempted here. This is an attempt to move toward an elected Senate without tripping up the giant elephant that sits in the middle of any room when we discuss the Senate.
The bigger question here is the legitimacy of the process. If you're going to tell the people of Canada there will be a consultation process but the Prime Minister is not bound to accept that choice, the fundamental legitimacy of this process is put into question. In any fundamental democratic principle, the acceptance of candidates who are chosen in a vote is not voluntary, it's mandatory. This is the democratic will of the Canadian people.
So what is the greater risk here? Is it to have a voluntary process that does not need to be respected, or to say to the Canadian people, “If this process is in place, your choice will be accepted”?