I will get into more detail about why I started this blog when I have time to write a more lengthy post. In short, I think that both the House of Commons (the "green house") and the Senate (the "red house") are in need of reform (and in the latter case, possibly abolition). The main problem with the House of Commons is in the seat distribution: there are many ridings which have very large populations and many that are very small when they ought to have more or less the same size. The main problems with the Senate are the seat distribution and the manner in which people end up filling those seats: 4 out of 10 provinces have fewer Senate seats than other provinces with smaller populations, and Senate appointments are too often based on patronage rather than a knack for sober-second-thought.
In some sense, the problems Senate problems are worse than the problem with the House of Commons. However because the Senate rarely uses the powers to which it is constitutionally entitled (which are nearly equal to those of the House), while the House uses its powers on a regular basis, some might consider it to be worse. Regardless of which is worse, it is my opinion that, after close examination, change is needed in both houses.
Recent scandals have intensified calls for change or abolition to the Senate, though these scandals do not make an argument against it any more than the Sponsorship Scandal could have made an argument against the House of Commons. In any case it is an issue that is on people's minds, which has resulted in an increase in the number of articles about it.
As time permits, I will post some of my own thoughts on the matter, but most of the time, I will probably just use this blog to link to those articles.
