Canada Senate: what sould be done with it?

[Emsworth]

Makes no sense to have something like the House of Lords for party hacks past retirement age.

Actually, Senators do not serve life terms, but only until they reach seventy-five.

The representation of the provinces in the Senate should be equalized. The current apportionment of Senators is quite out-of-date and is not even roughly related to population. If the appointment of Senators is to continue, then the provincial premier, not the Prime Minister, should choose the appointee, so that the Senate truly does represent provincial interests. No constitutional changes need to be made when it comes to the Senate's powers; in theory, the Senate has more than enough power, but simply does not use it in practice.

[Emsworth]

I don't know how the UK House of Lords works, so you'll have to explain that first.

The House of Lords almost wholly consists of members theoretically appointed by the Queen, but the actual choices are made by the Prime Minister. So, to answer 9iron's question, the Senate is indeed, in this respect, similar to the Lords; the Governor General makes the appointments on the Prime Minister's advice.

Of course, there are a few differences; for example, the Canadian Senate does not include bishops of the established church (as there is no such church in Canada).