Page "Maritimes" Paragraph 78

The Canadian Senate is structured along regional lines, giving an equal number of seats ( 24 ) to the Maritimes, Ontario, Quebec, and western Canada, in addition to the later entry of Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as the three territories.

Enshrined in the Constitution, this model was developed to ensure that no area of the country is able to exert undue influence in the Senate.

The Maritimes, with its much smaller proportion of the national population ( compared to the time of Confederation ) also have an over-representation in the Senate, particularly compared to the population growth of Ontario and the western provinces.

This has led to calls to reform the Senate ; however, such a move would entail constitutional changes.