Canada agrees political reform

OTTAWA (Reuter) - Canada's nine provinces agreed on Tuesday to unprecedented political changes to decentralise federal power and accommodate French-speaking Quebec's demands for more autonomy.

Provincial premiers agreed to turn Canada's appointed senate into an elected upper house with equal representation for each province and powers to veto legislation.

The package includes a shift of power away from Ottawa to the provinces. Quebec, which has boycotted the talks since a previous plan collapsed in 1990, is to hold a referendum on sovereignty by 26 October.