It's always been like that in Canada. PM appoints the senators.
There still is a push to have an elected senate, but naturally the muskeg resists it.
http://www.parli.ca/triple-e-senate/
Indeed. Personally getting away from The House of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha is much more important right now. Become an actual sovereign nation first.
It's only a slide if you get on it.
Catholicism isn't Christianity. It pretends to be tho.