Mr. Speaker, the hon. member from the NDP asks some very good questions. The first thing that has to be done that can be done is to grandfather those members who are senators today and nothing will change for them.
However, establish a plan right now that all new senators will be elected and will come on the basis of regional representation.
Although the member clearly says it will be very difficult for provinces such as Ontario and Quebec that have the lion's share to accept that, or New Brunswick which has a disproportionate number to British Columbia, that is where leadership comes in. That is where doing the right thing will demonstrate to the Canadian public that this House is not a house of elusions but a house of leadership.
Grandfather current senators. New senators would fit into a system of proportional representation where senators would be elected on the basis of an equal number for each province.