One of the few Confederation-era laws still on the books is being challenged by Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson in hopes of repealing the outdated law, said Blacklock’s Reporter..Patterson described the law that requires senators to be landowners with at least $4,000 in paid-up equity as “antiquated and elitist.”.“They are requirements that haven’t changed since the Constitution Act in 1867,” Patterson earlier told the Senate..“These are antiquated and elitist measures that have lost their raison d’être in modern society.”.Patterson first began his attempt to repeal the then 149-year-old law in 2016 which requires senators to own “real and personal property” worth $4,000 over and above any debts and liabilities..“Millions of Canadians across the country are not qualified to sit as a senator and fully participate in the governing of Canada solely because they do not own land or their net worth is below $4,000,” said Patterson Thursday upon introducing another bill: S-228..“Canadians should not be excluded from participating in the parliamentary process simply because they rent or are an Aboriginal homeowner on reserve..“The provision made a lot of sense, I suspect, in 1867, putting aside the purpose for which it was put in place,” said Patterson..The new bill would repeal the provision for appointees from all provinces but Québec due to an anomaly that would require approval of that province’s National Assembly..The original $4,000 property requirement represented a senator’s annual pay at the time, a salary level that remained unchanged until 1925, while industrial wages were 60¢ per day or less..The 1867 Senate, then comprised of 72 members, included 12 factory owners, 10 bankers, four railway executives, three publishers, two law professors and a judge..“This was the chamber that was going to protect the rich by being sure it was populated by the rich,” then-Senator Joan Fraser (Que.) said in 2018 debate on repeal..“In 1867 it meant quite a lot. It was a huge requirement, and it was done by design.”.The original 1867 British North America Act set similar criteria on MPs. Candidates from Ontario and Québec were required to own property worth at least 500 pounds sterling..New Brunswick MPs had to prove ownership of at least $1,200 worth of land while property requirements in Nova Scotia were just $8. The Commons abolished all property requirements in 1874..Following the Senate appointment of Sister Peggy Butts, a Catholic nun who had taken a vow of poverty, efforts began to repeal the property requirement law..In order for Butts to meet property qualifications, Congrégation de Notre Dame of Montréal granted her title to a $4,000 lot..Senator Butts, who died at the age of 81 in 2004, donated her entire salary to charity.
One of the few Confederation-era laws still on the books is being challenged by Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson in hopes of repealing the outdated law, said Blacklock’s Reporter..Patterson described the law that requires senators to be landowners with at least $4,000 in paid-up equity as “antiquated and elitist.”.“They are requirements that haven’t changed since the Constitution Act in 1867,” Patterson earlier told the Senate..“These are antiquated and elitist measures that have lost their raison d’être in modern society.”.Patterson first began his attempt to repeal the then 149-year-old law in 2016 which requires senators to own “real and personal property” worth $4,000 over and above any debts and liabilities..“Millions of Canadians across the country are not qualified to sit as a senator and fully participate in the governing of Canada solely because they do not own land or their net worth is below $4,000,” said Patterson Thursday upon introducing another bill: S-228..“Canadians should not be excluded from participating in the parliamentary process simply because they rent or are an Aboriginal homeowner on reserve..“The provision made a lot of sense, I suspect, in 1867, putting aside the purpose for which it was put in place,” said Patterson..The new bill would repeal the provision for appointees from all provinces but Québec due to an anomaly that would require approval of that province’s National Assembly..The original $4,000 property requirement represented a senator’s annual pay at the time, a salary level that remained unchanged until 1925, while industrial wages were 60¢ per day or less..The 1867 Senate, then comprised of 72 members, included 12 factory owners, 10 bankers, four railway executives, three publishers, two law professors and a judge..“This was the chamber that was going to protect the rich by being sure it was populated by the rich,” then-Senator Joan Fraser (Que.) said in 2018 debate on repeal..“In 1867 it meant quite a lot. It was a huge requirement, and it was done by design.”.The original 1867 British North America Act set similar criteria on MPs. Candidates from Ontario and Québec were required to own property worth at least 500 pounds sterling..New Brunswick MPs had to prove ownership of at least $1,200 worth of land while property requirements in Nova Scotia were just $8. The Commons abolished all property requirements in 1874..Following the Senate appointment of Sister Peggy Butts, a Catholic nun who had taken a vow of poverty, efforts began to repeal the property requirement law..In order for Butts to meet property qualifications, Congrégation de Notre Dame of Montréal granted her title to a $4,000 lot..Senator Butts, who died at the age of 81 in 2004, donated her entire salary to charity.
