Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  Perhaps I can respond on the last point about the public buying in. Certainly any indications we have seen in terms of public will on Senate reform show that there's a very strong inclination among the public that the Senate be reformed in some manner. I think it's fair to say

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  It will depend on the number of completed ballots, to go back to an earlier question, whether or not someone could get in with x number of votes.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  The formula is the total number of ballots, divided by the number of vacancies, plus one.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  If there is one position, you'd have to assume how many people voted. Let's say there are 10 million who vote. It would be 5 million plus a couple of voters.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  That would be the number of votes you need in order to—

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  The matter of choice is again in relation to the previous question. I guess that may well be seen as fettering the discretion of the Governor General or the Prime Minister with respect to the appointment process and require the use of an amendment process to the Constitution itse

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  I will ask my colleague to comment on that.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  That would be the case if there weren't provisions for rotation on the ballot, but the bill actually provides that there is.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  In the first instance, I guess the Constitution currently provides for the process for selecting senators. When I say “process”, it's not much of a process. The Governor General summons persons to the Senate, and it's by constitutional convention that the process of the Governor

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  There are two possibilities when it comes to vote transfers. First of all, there is the situation where there are surplus votes—that is, a candidate has received more than the required number of votes. In that case, all the ballots are examined to determine who would be the seco

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  There will be less precision in that system, but it will work.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  That would certainly be our opinion. To begin with, we were very conscious of the way the Constitution is constructed and what is necessary if one wishes to change the method of selection. That requires an amendment to the Constitution, as you mentioned, with seven provinces repr

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  Maybe I can explain. There are three ways you could do this for the ones with the surplus number of votes. You could just look at those surpluses and ask what are the numbers on those, for number two, which would be the next instance. So of those surplus, you ask who is number tw

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  Yes, independents can contest the selection process.

Bill C-20 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) committee  I would say the process is democratic. It is used in many different countries.