Honestly I've never given Canadian politics much thought before, I just assumed it was like ours, with different names. I now see its much different than I imagined:

So, I did some digging and found this, which only caused more questions.:

The Senate

The Senate usually has 105 members: 24 from the Maritime provinces (10 from Nova Scotia, 10 from New Brunswick, four from Prince Edward Island); 24 from Quebec; 24 from Ontario; 24 from the Western provinces (6 each from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia); 6 from Newfoundland and Labrador; and 1 each from the Yukon Territory, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. There is provision also for 4 or 8 extra Senators: 1 — or 2 — from the Maritime region, Quebec, Ontario and the West; but this has been used only once, in 1990.

The Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. They hold office until age 75 unless they miss two consecutive sessions of Parliament. Till 1965, they held office for life. Senators must be at least 30 years old, and must have real estate worth $4,000 net, and total net assets of at least $4,000. They must reside in the province or territory for which they are appointed; in Quebec, they must reside, or have their property qualification, in the particular one of Quebec’s 24 senatorial districts for which they are appointed.

The Senate can initiate any bills except bills providing for the expenditure of public money or imposing taxes. It can amend or reject any bill whatsoever. It can reject any bill as often as it sees fit. No bill can become law unless it has been passed by the Senate.

So if the senat is appointed and not elected, do they provide real checks and balance system of the House of commons? Do Bills have to be approved by both bodies? It doesn't seem there is many qualifications to being appointed a senator, are abuses rampant of who gets apponted? Do the appointed have to go through some sort of hearing process like our Supreme court nominees?