on Parliament Hill these days is reform of the Senate. I don't need to tell you, my fellow Albertans, about the importance of this issue. Our Prime Minister has done everything in his power to push Senate reform, contending with concerted obstruction from some provinces and opposition parties.

In his time as Prime Minister, Stephen Harper has seen four Senators chosen by the people of Alberta sworn into office. They include my friend Bert Brown who recently retired from the Red Chamber. Both Senator Brown and Prime Minister Harper have continually advocated for Senate reform, recognizing that a majority of Canadians support action on this front.

Like Senator Brown, who famously cut the letters "EEE" into a field, I have long believed that an Equal, Elected and Effective Senate would best serve our country.

However, I recognize the reality that such a change would not be possible without a constitutional amendment. The reality is that most Canadians do not want to revisit the constitutional battles of years past.

Bearing that in mind, our government has taken another approach to Senate reform.

Currently, the Governor General appoints Senators on the advice of the Prime Minister and they remain in office until mandatory retirement at age 75. Our government has introduced the Senate Reform Act, which creates a process for Canadians to choose their Senate nominees through elections and imposes nine-year term limits on Senators.

However, even these incremental changes have been obstructed as the opposition questioned the legality of these steps. In response, on Feb. 1 our government asked the Supreme Court to weigh in. Specifically, we are asking the court what is required to reform the Senate as well as what is required to abolish the Senate.

As a proud Albertan who has long sought Senate reform, I anxiously await the Supreme Court's direction. Personally, I believe the Senate can continue to fulfill an important role in our Parliamentary democracy. However, the status quo is not acceptable to me, it's not acceptable to our government and it is not acceptable to Canadians.

If the opposition continues to obstruct our efforts and reform proves impossible, abolishment of the Senate would be the last resort.