Thank you, Madam Chair.
I would like to thank all three of you for being here. Your knowledge of and insight into the Constitution and the bill we are considering today are distinguished indeed.
I have two major questions to ask you. The first deals with executive power in relation to the appointment of the people winning the elections. Nowhere in Bill C-20 does it say that the Prime Minister is required to appoint the people who have been elected by popular vote. He may, at his discretion, submit the list to the Governor General. So he could choose half of the people on the list, or more, or none, or give the Governor General a list of people who have not been elected by popular vote.
This bill does not affect the Constitution and could therefore be passed like an ordinary bill. Why does it not give more details about the Prime Minister's responsibility vis-à-vis that list? That is my first question.
My second question deals with the power of the provinces. I think that it was Mr. Heard who told us, and let me read his last sentence:
...the Senate is not something for the national Parliament to radically reform without the consent of the provinces.”
However, we know that the way in which senators currently represent their provinces is not the same in all provinces of Canada. For example, in Quebec, senators represent a specific region, which is not the case in the other provinces. How can we change the role, the appointment process and the responsibilities of senators without asking the Government of Quebec for its position on the matter?
The questions go to whichever of the three witnesses wants to reply.