HRFC

Becoming a Canadian Senator used to be a lifetime appointment. Today, although still appointed by the Governor General on advice from the Prime Minister, they are limited to serve until 75 years of age. To prevent a repeat of the current cronyism, all members of the Commission must be elected in a system comparable to the House of Commons.

Beyond the oversight of new legislation from the House of Commons, the Commission will have purview over all federal governmental bodies, for example, including the CRTC. The Commission will not have any purview over personal activities or individuals otherwise not acting on behalf of the government.

The Commission will primarily have the power to approve, reject, or require changes to new legislation from the House of Commons, but also to introduce new legislation, launch investigations, and refer findings for criminal investigation.

Unlike the House of Commons, members serving in the Commission must have the necessary qualifications relevant to the seat for which they serve. For example, the Bioethics Chair might have a degree in bioethics, a degree in organic chemistry, and a decade experience working in bioethics roles (i.e., a PhD in inorganic chemistry would not be an applicable qualification for the Bioethics Chair).