Talk about whether the Senate would thwart the will of the elected House whenever a change of government is expected in Ottawa is almost a right of passage in Canadian politics. And even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau packed the upper chamber with ostensibly independent senators, the debate remains the same this time around.

If history is any judge, the Senate will offer only minimal resistance to Pierre Poilievre’s agenda if the Conservatives win the next election. But there is the possibility that Trudeau’s non-partisan wallpaper will embolden senators to block legislation passed by our elected representatives, potentially setting up a constitutional crisis. Would unelected senators have the gall to obstruct the agenda of a duly elected government? According to one prominent senator, the answer appears to be: yes!