The case for Yes
Why abolish the Senate?
Straight answers about Question 7, what a Yes vote does, and why an unelected chamber shouldn't hold power over the people you elect.
Fast Facts6
$141 million a year
The Senate's own budget for 2026–27 — money for a chamber no voter chose.
Source: Senate of Canada, 2026–27 budget
105 seats, all appointed
There is no election for the Senate; every member is appointed on the prime minister's advice.
Source: Constitution Act, 1867
6 of 105
Alberta's share of Senate seats. The four Atlantic provinces hold 30, with about half Alberta's population.
Source: Constitution Act, 1867, s. 22
1 vs 37
Government bills the Senate amended in Stephen Harper's last four years (1) versus since 2016 (37).
Source: CBC; Canadian Political Science Review
$910 million
What the Senate's amendment to farm-fuel carbon-tax Bill C-234 cost farmers by delaying their relief, per the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
Source: Parliamentary Budget Officer
$992,000 / 30 senators
Improper expense claims found by the Auditor General in 2015; nine cases were referred to the RCMP.
Source: Auditor General of Canada, 2015
The basics3
What exactly am I voting on?
You are voting on Question 7, which asks whether Alberta should work with other willing provinces to amend the Constitution and abolish the unelected federal Senate. A Yes vote directs Alberta’s government to pursue removing the Senate from Canada’s Constitution — it is one of several separate ballots you’ll receive at the polls.
When and where do I vote?
Election Day is Monday, October 19, 2026, with polls open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Advance voting runs October 13 to 17, and you can also vote by mail with a special ballot. Enter your postal code on Elections Alberta’s Where to Vote tool to find your location. Full details are on our Where & How to Vote page.
Does a Yes vote actually change anything?
A Yes vote does not abolish the Senate overnight, but it is the first step in the constitutional process and a binding mandate for Alberta to pursue abolition. Question 7 is one of the referendum’s constitutional questions; Alberta’s government has said a majority Yes on those is binding on the province and must take the steps within its own power to pursue the change.
How the Senate actually works1
What powers does the Senate have?
The Senate can amend, delay, or defeat nearly any bill — and there is no mechanism for the elected House of Commons to override a Senate veto. No bill becomes law without the Senate’s agreement (About the Senate). Two limits apply: it can’t introduce money bills, and it can only delay a constitutional amendment for 180 days.
The case for abolishing3
How much does the Senate cost?
The Senate costs about $141 million a year (Senate of Canada, 2026–27 budget) for a chamber no voter chose. That covers salaries, offices, travel, and pensions for appointed members and their staff. Abolition isn’t mainly about the dollars — it’s about who holds power — but $141 million a year for an unelected body is money that could stay with taxpayers or fund services people voted for.
Doesn’t the Senate protect smaller provinces?
The Senate gives the four Atlantic provinces 30 of 105 seats (Constitution Act, 1867, s. 22) while Alberta has 6 — even though Alberta’s population is roughly twice the Atlantic provinces combined. The seat formula was frozen in 1867 and never corrected for today’s population. That isn’t protecting small provinces at today’s scale; it’s locking in 19th-century math.
Is the Senate fair to Alberta?
No — Alberta holds 6 of 105 Senate seats while the four Atlantic provinces hold 30, with roughly half Alberta’s population (Constitution Act, 1867, s. 22). Alberta has voted for Senate nominees since 1989; Ottawa has often ignored the result.
About the vote1
Is voting Yes the same as separation?
No — Question 7 is only about abolishing the unelected Senate; separation is a different question on a different ballot, and this campaign takes no position on it. You can vote Yes on 7 and whatever your conscience tells you on the rest.