Alward's Senate reform plans on hold

The Alward government has put on hold its plan for Senate elections as it waits to see a ruling from the Supreme Court of Canada on reforming the institution.

The Progressive Conservatives hadtabled a reform bill last year, but it died with that last session.

The federal government has since asked the Supreme Court of Canada to rule on whether changing the Senate requires changing the constitution.

Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud said there is no point passing a bill before Canada's top court rules on the question.

"We're going to wait to see the decision of the Supreme Court and after that, we'll move on with a new piece of legislation if we need to do so," he said.

Premier David Alward's Senate reform proposal would have New Brunswickers vote on which names should be submitted to Ottawa for appointment to the Senate by the prime minister.

WhenAlward unveiled the legislation last year, he called the Senate reform proposal "historic."

He said the first Senate elections would likely be held in 2016.

New Brunswick has 10 seats in the upper chamber.

Supreme Court hearing

But thats on hold until the Supreme Court rules on whether all provinces, or just a majority, must agree on Senate elections and term limits, or on the abolition of the Senate altogether.

It is also considering if Ottawa can legislate those changesitself.

Justice Minister Marie-Claude Blaissaid the provincial governmenthas yet to develop its legal position on those points.

"When the time comes, I'll be more than happy to sit down with you and talk about that," Blais said.

All provinces have been given intervener status in the Supreme Court hearing, which is scheduled for three days this fall.

The ongoing scandal over Senate expenses has prompted many Canadian politicians to talk openly about the need for reforming or abolishing the Senate.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said on Wednesday thatshe'd like to see the upper chamber reformed.

Meanwhile, Senator Marjory LeBreton, the government's leader in the Senate, said this week theSenate should be abolishedif it cannot be reformed.