What did the proposed changes to the Canadian Senate aim to provide to its members?

The proposed changes to the Canadian Senate aimed to introduce limited terms and a political mandate for its members. This reflects a significant shift from the traditional model of the Senate, where senators held lifetime appointments and were not directly accountable to the electorate. By implementing term limits, the intent was to encourage fresh perspectives and reduce the risks of stagnation within the Senate. It also aimed to increase the democratic legitimacy of the Senate by ensuring that senators would have to consider their constituents' needs and opinions more actively, thereby promoting a more responsive governance structure.

While lifetime appointments would maintain the status quo and allow for continuity, the proposed reforms were specifically designed to modernize the Senate and align it more closely with current democratic values. Direct voter elections would dramatically alter the Senate’s structure, making it more similar to the House of Commons, which was not part of the proposed changes. Additionally, increasing the power over provincial legislatures would conflict with the principle of cooperative federalism that underpins Canada's governance, where both federal and provincial levels of government have distinct and shared responsibilities.