Madam Chair, with respect to Ms. Fry's concern about provincial objection, there would be the general concern that arises around the central accommodation of Canadian federalism being altered unilaterally.
The very specific concern is to remember that clause 13 of Bill C-20 allows for consultations to occur in the context of a provincial general election. One can imagine a province establishing a general election and having it, so to speak, hijacked by the federal Senate election—a bigger, louder, more weighty election than anything the poor province was trying to pull off. That would be unhappiness. We can predict provincial push-back on that very pragmatic basis as well as on the more theoretical basis.
As for a reference to the Supreme Court of Canada, I think one could just ask them the question: Is it within the legislative competence of the Parliament of Canada to enact legislation that establishes non-renewable term limits for senators and that bases appointments to the Senate on an electoral process taken prior to appointment? That would get to the heart of the issues we're discussing today, and they would give you an answer. It's precise enough, I think, and as I say gets to the heart of it.