Committee Work
Committee basics
Although the Canadian constitution gives the Senate and the House of Commons many of the same powers, they actually complement rather than compete with one another. The Senate tends to be less-partisan than the House of Commons and Senators work not only on high profile issues but also on reviewing legislation that can have a significant impact on the lives of Canadians. Senate committees hear many more witnesses than the House of Commons committee system, allowing Canadians to be heard and have a say in government decisions.
As a Senator, I currenlty sit on four committees examining government legislation and policies and am a member of several inter-parliamentary organizations building relationships with governments around the world. The unique makeup of the Senate means that my colleagues and I can add a voice distinct from that of the House of Commons to the political debate in this country.