Parliament:	Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada
Structure:	Bicameral
Chamber:	Senate - Sénat
President:	Gildas Molgat (M)
Secretary general:	Paul Bélisle (M)
Members:	104 appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Percentage of women:	15 %
Term:	0 continuous
Last renewal:
Address:	The Senate OTTAWA, Ontario, K1A 0A4 Tel.: (613) 992 2493 Cable: Comparlas Ott Telex: 053-3139 Fax: (613) 992 7959 E-mail: comsen@sen.parl.gc.ca
Affiliation to IPU:	Yes
Affiliation dates:	1900 -1933 1960

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Constituencies:
Regional representation:
- a total of 24 Senators from each of 4 regions (Ontario, Quebec, Maritime Provinces, Western provinces)
- 6 Senators from Newfoundland
- 1 Senator from the Northwest Territories
- 1 Senator from the Yukon

Voting system:
Appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.
Vacancies are filled by the Governor-General acting on the recommendation of the Cabinet.

Voter requirements:
(not applicable)

Eligibility:
- age: 30 years
- Canadian or British Commonwealth citizenship
- residence in the province for which appointed
- ownership of land free of encumbrances to the value of Can$ 4,000 within that same province
- real and personal property having a net worth of Can$ 4,000
- in Quebec: residence and property qualifications considered at the district level
- ineligibility: citizenship of another country, undischarged bankruptcy

Incompatibilities:
(not applicable)

Candidacy requirements:
- candidates nominated by political parties

LAST ELECTIONS

• Results
• Distribution of seats: by political group, profession, sex, age

Date(s) of elections / renewal

Purpose of elections
(not applicable)

Background and outcome of elections
(not applicable)

Statistics
CANADA Senate

1. Results of the elections
(not applicable)


2. Distribution of seats according to political group

Progressive Conservative Party (PCP)	58
Liberal Party	41
Independents	5
	___
	104*
*as of 29 October 1996, the party breakdown was:

Liberal Party	51
PCP	50
Independents	3

3. Distribution of seats according to profession

Businessmen and women, industrialists,
managers, merchants and owners	39
Lawyers	33
Professors, teachers and educators	16
Administrators	15
Journalists	14
Politicians at the provincial or municipal level	8
Political scientists	6
Advertising	5
Doctors	4
Farmers and ranchers	4
Chartered accountants	2
Others	19
	___
	165*
*because some members have more than one occupation, total is higher than the total membership

4. Distribution of seats according to sex

Men	88
Women	16
	___
	104*
*as of 29 October 1996, the breakdown was:

Men	80
Women	24

5. Distribution of seats according to age

20-29 years	-
30-39	"	-
40-49	"	6
50-59	"	35
60-69	"	41
70-79	"	21
80-89	"	1
	___
	104

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT
Appointment and term of office | Status | Functions

APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title:
The Speaker of the Senate

Term:
- duration: 5 years (normally one Parliament only)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation because of age, appointment to another office, death

Appointment:
- is appointed by Governor General on advise of the Prime Minister

Eligibility:
- any Senator may be candidate

Voting system:
(not applicable)

Procedures / results :
- announcement
- the results cannot be challenged

STATUS
Status:
- ranks fourth in the Table of Precedence for Canada and has precedence over the Speaker of the House of Commons
- represents the Senate with the public authorities and in international bodies
- is ex officio President of Parliamentary Associations
- in the absence of the Speaker, a Speaker pro tempore can assume his/her role and functions

Board:
- the Standing Senate Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration is regulated by the Rules of the Senate
- is composed of 15 Senators
- is in charge of all matters of financial or administrative nature relating to the Senate
- meets as required

Material facilities:
- sessional allowance paid in monthly instalments on the last day of each month
- special allowance of $ 19,600

FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business:
- convenes sessions

Chairing of public sittings:
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning only messages received from Governor General and House otherwise Clerk or others
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- checks the quorum
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate

Special powers:
- may be consulted in appointing the Clerk
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments

Speaking and voting rights, other functions:
- must leave chair to take the floor in legislative debates
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments not from Chair but may do so from his Senate seat
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure, but not from Chair