An all-party committee of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly will hold nine public meetings to ask Manitobans how senators should be elected to represent the province in the Senate of Canada. The seven-person committee will hold meetings around the province in January and February of 2009.

Currently in Canada, senators are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and they serve until age 75.

The federal government has committed to moving forward with senate reform. In response, Manitoba has established an all party committee to ask Manitobans how senators could be elected. A report with recommendations on how Manitoba senators could be chosen is expected by October 8, 2009. This process reflects legislation Manitoba passed in 2006 to address senate elections.

The seven-person sub-committee will be made up of members from a 12-member special legislative committee established to look at how to elect senators. The sub-committee will conduct the public meetings and report back to the main committee. On the main committee, there are seven members from the New Democratic Party, four Progressive Conservative members and one Liberal party representative. Erna Braun, MLA for Rossmere will chair both the main committee and sub-committee.