Examining Senate Independence in Canada

Over the past 10 years, the Senate has witnessed extraordinary change — namely a radical overhaul to do away with formal partisanship. The driver behind that? Former prime minister Justin Trudeau. But now that he’s gone, will those changes stick?

In a special documentary edition of The House, guest host J.P. Tasker carves out some frank and revealing conversations with Senators Andrew Cardozo, Marc Gold, Leo Housakos, Paul Prosper, Paula Simons and Pamela Wallin about their place of work. 

Professor and author Jonathan Malloy also weighs in on representation in the Senate and whether reform is realistic, while Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon explains the new government’s strategy when it comes to dealing with the chamber of sober second thought.

This episode features the voices of:

• Marc Gold, former senator & government representative in the Senate
• Senator Andrew Cardozo
• Senator Leo Housakos
• Senator Paul Prosper
• Senator Paula Simons
• Senator Pamela Wallin
• Jonathan Malloy, political science professor at Carleton University
• Steven MacKinnon, government House leader