The Senate Chamber, located in the Centre Block of Parliament Hill
The Senate of Canada (French : Le Sénat du Canada ) is a component of the Parliament of Canada , along with the sovereign (represented by the governor general ) and the House of Commons .[1] Unlike the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, senators are not elected. The Senate came into existence in 1867, when the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the British North America Act , uniting the Province of Canada with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick into a single federation. The Canadian Parliament was based on the Westminster model , the model of the Parliament of the United Kingdom .[1] Approval of both the House of Commons and the Senate is necessary for legislation; the Senate provides a "sober second-thought".[1] The government is responsible solely to the House of Commons; the prime minister and Cabinet stay in office only as long as he or she retains the support of the lower house. The Senate does not exercise any such control. Although legislation can normally be introduced in either House, the majority of government bills originate in the House of Commons.[2] [1]
The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister .[2] Senators originally held their seats for life ; however, under the British North America Act, 1965 , members may not sit in the Senate after reaching the age of 75. Prime ministers normally choose members of their own parties to be senators, though they sometimes nominate independents or members of opposing parties. Seats are assigned on a regional basis, each of the four major regions receives 24 seats, and the remainder of the available seats being assigned to smaller regions. The four major regions are Ontario , Quebec , the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island ), and the Western provinces (Alberta , British Columbia , Manitoba and Saskatchewan ). The seats for Newfoundland and Labrador , the Northwest Territories , Yukon , and Nunavut are assigned apart from these regional divisions.[1] The province of Quebec has 24 Senate divisions that are constitutionally mandated. In all other provinces, a Senate division is strictly an optional designation of the senator's own choosing, and has no real constitutional or legal standing. A senator who does not choose a special senate division is considered a senator for the province at large.[1] The distribution of seats has been criticized for not being proportional per region. For example, Ontario has 40% of Canada's population but only 24 seats, while the smaller Atlantic provinces have a combined 30,[3] and British Columbia, the third most populous province, only has six seats.[4]
There has been a push for Senate reform. One of the most proposed systems is the Triple-E Senate (Triple-E stands for equal , elected , and effective), which would re-align the seats, make senators elected, and give them more powers.[5] Alberta is the only province that holds Senate nominee elections , although Saskatchewan plans to hold their own as well.[6] Prime Minister Stephen Harper is an advocate of an elected Senate, and originally said that he would not appoint any new senators until there is reform.[6] In his first two years as prime minister, he appointed two. One of his appointments was Bert Brown , who was one of Alberta's elected nominees and is the second unofficially elected Senator in Canadian history after Stan Waters in 1990.[7] On December 22, 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced that 18 new senators would be appointed.[8]
Currently, there are no vacant seats. There are 35 women in the Senate, who make up 33% of the the total number.[9] The Liberal Party currently holds the most seats with 58. Of those, 38 were appointed on the advice of Jean Chrétien . Active senators have been appointed on the advice of seven different prime ministers: Harper, Paul Martin , Chrétien, Brian Mulroney , John Turner , Pierre Trudeau and Joe Clark . The Conservative Party has 38 senators; the government side in the Senate is the party that forms the government in the House of Commons, so the Conservatives control government business. Marjory LeBreton is the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Jim Cowan is the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate . Gerald Comeau is the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate and Claudette Tardif is the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. Terry Stratton is Government Whip and Jim Munson is Opposition Whip .[10] Willie Adams has been serving the longest; he was appointed on the advice of Pierre Trudeau in 1977.
Current senators
Key
Name
Party
Province (Division) [A]
Date appointed
Appointed on the advice of
Mandatory retirement
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Willie Adams
Liberal
Nunavut
May 4, 1977
Trudeau
June 22, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Raynell Andreychuk
Conservative
Saskatchewan
March 11, 1993
Mulroney
August 14, 2019
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
W. David Angus
Conservative
Quebec (Alma )
June 10, 1993
Mulroney
July 21, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives |
Norman K. Atkins
Progressive Conservative
Ontario (Markham )
July 2, 1986
Mulroney
June 27, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Lise Bacon
Liberal
Quebec (De la Durantaye )
September 15, 1994
Chrétien
August 25, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
George Baker
Liberal
Newfoundland and Labrador
March 26, 2002
Chrétien
September 4, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Tommy Banks
Liberal
Alberta
April 7, 2000
Chrétien
December 17, 2011
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Michel Biron
Liberal
Quebec (Mille Isles )
October 4, 2001
Chrétien
March 16, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Patrick Brazeau
Conservative
Quebec
December 22, 2008
Harper
November 11, 2049
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Bert Brown
Conservative
Alberta
July 10, 2007
Harper
March 22, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
John G. Bryden
Liberal
New Brunswick
November 23, 1994
Chrétien
August 25, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Catherine S. Callbeck
Liberal
Prince Edward Island
September 23, 1997
Chrétien
July 25, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Larry W. Campbell
Liberal
British Columbia
August 2, 2005
Martin
February 28, 2023
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Sharon Carstairs
Liberal
Manitoba
September 15, 1994
Chrétien
April 26, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Andrée Champagne
Conservative
Quebec (Grandville )
August 2, 2005
Martin
July 17, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Maria Chaput
Liberal
Manitoba
December 12, 2002
Chrétien
May 7, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Ethel M. Cochrane
Conservative
Newfoundland and Labrador
November 17, 1986
Mulroney
September 23, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Gerald J. Comeau
Conservative
Nova Scotia
August 30, 1990
Mulroney
February 1, 2021
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Joan Cook
Liberal
Newfoundland and Labrador
March 6, 1998
Chrétien
October 6, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independent |
Anne C. Cools
Non-aligned[B]
Ontario (Toronto-Centre-York )
January 13, 1984
Trudeau
August 12, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Eymard G. Corbin
Liberal
New Brunswick (Grand-Sault )
July 9, 1984
Turner
August 2, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Jane Marie Cordy
Liberal
Nova Scotia
June 9, 2000
Chrétien
July 2, 2025
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Jim Cowan ^
Liberal
Nova Scotia
March 24, 2005
Martin
January 22, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Roméo Dallaire
Liberal
Quebec (Gulf )
March 24, 2005
Martin
June 25, 2022
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Dennis Dawson
Liberal
Quebec (Lauzon )
August 2, 2005
Martin
September 28, 2024
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Joseph A. Day
Liberal
New Brunswick (Saint John-Kennebecasis )
October 4, 2001
Chrétien
January 24, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Pierre De Bané
Liberal
Quebec (De la Vallière )
June 29, 1984
Trudeau
August 2, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Fred Dickson
Conservative
Nova Scotia
December 22, 2008
Harper
July 4, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Consiglio Di Nino
Conservative
Ontario
August 30, 1990
Mulroney
January 24, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Percy E. Downe
Liberal
Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown )
July 26, 2003
Chrétien
July 8, 2029
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Michael Duffy
Conservative
Prince Edward Island
December 22, 2008
Harper
May 27, 2021
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/NDP |
Lillian Eva Dyck
Independent NDP[C]
Saskatchewan
March 24, 2005
Martin
August 24, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Nicole Eaton
Conservative
Ontario
December 22, 2008
Harper
January 21, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Art Eggleton
Liberal
Ontario
March 24, 2005
Martin
September 29, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
John Trevor Eyton
Conservative
Ontario
September 23, 1990
Mulroney
July 12, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Joyce Fairbairn
Liberal
Alberta (Lethbridge )
June 29, 1984
Trudeau
November 6, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis
Conservative
Quebec
December 22, 2008
Harper
June 30, 2015
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Francis Fox
Liberal
Quebec (Victoria )
August 29, 2005
Martin
December 2, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Joan Fraser
Liberal
Quebec (De Lorimier )
September 17, 1998
Chrétien
October 12, 2019
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
George Furey
Liberal
Newfoundland and Labrador
August 11, 1999
Chrétien
May 12, 2023
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Irving Gerstein
Conservative
Ontario
December 22, 2008
Harper
February 10, 2016
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Yoine Goldstein
Liberal
Quebec (Rigaud )
August 29, 2005
Martin
May 11, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Jerahmiel S. Grafstein
Liberal
Ontario (Metro Toronto )
January 13, 1984
Trudeau
January 2, 2010
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Stephen Greene
Conservative
Nova Scotia
December 22, 2008
Harper
December 8, 2024
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Nancy Greene Raine
Conservative
British Columbia
December 22, 2008
Harper
May 11, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Mac Harb
Liberal
Ontario
September 9, 2003
Chrétien
November 10, 2028
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Céline Hervieux-Payette
Liberal
Quebec (Bedford )
March 21, 1995
Chrétien
April 22, 2016
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Leo Housakos
Conservative
Quebec
December 22, 2008
Harper
January 10, 2043
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Libbe Hubley
Liberal
Prince Edward Island
March 8, 2001
Chrétien
September 8, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Mobina S.B. Jaffer
Liberal
British Columbia
June 13, 2001
Chrétien
August 20, 2024
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Janis G. Johnson
Conservative
Manitoba (Winnipeg - Interlake )
September 27, 1990
Mulroney
April 27, 2021
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Serge Joyal
Liberal
Quebec (Kennebec )
November 26, 1997
Chrétien
February 1, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Colin Kenny
Liberal
Ontario (Rideau )
June 29, 1984
Trudeau
December 10, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Wilbert Joseph Keon
Conservative
Ontario (Ottawa )
September 27, 1990
Mulroney
May 17, 2010
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Noël A. Kinsella ¤
Conservative
New Brunswick (Fredericton-York-Sunbury )
September 12, 1990
Mulroney
November 28, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Hector Daniel Lang
Conservative
Yukon
December 22, 2008
Harper
April 3, 2023
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Jean Lapointe
Liberal
Quebec (Saurel )
June 13, 2001
Chrétien
December 6, 2010
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Raymond Lavigne
Independent Liberal[D]
Quebec (Montarville )
March 26, 2002
Chrétien
November 10, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Marjory LeBreton [E] *
Conservative
Ontario
June 18, 1993
Mulroney
July 4, 2015
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Rose-Marie Losier-Cool
Liberal
New Brunswick (Tracadie )
March 21, 1995
Chrétien
June 18, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Sandra M. Lovelace Nicholas
Liberal
New Brunswick
September 21, 2005
Martin
April 15, 2023
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Michael L. MacDonald
Conservative
Nova Scotia
December 22, 2008
Harper
May 4, 2030
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Francis W. Mahovlich
Liberal
Ontario
June 11, 1998
Chrétien
January 10, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Fabian Manning
Conservative
Newfoundland and Labrador
December 22, 2008
Harper
May 24, 2039
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Yonah Martin
Conservative
British Columbia
December 22, 2008
Harper
April 11, 2040
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Paul J. Massicotte
Liberal
Quebec (De Lanaudière )
June 26, 2003
Chrétien
September 10, 2026
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives |
Elaine McCoy
Progressive Conservative
Alberta
March 24, 2005
Martin
March 7, 2021
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Michael A. Meighen
Conservative
Ontario (St. Marys )
September 27, 1990
Mulroney
March 25, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Terry M. Mercer
Liberal
Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax )
November 7, 2003
Chrétien
May 6, 2022
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Pana Merchant
Liberal
Saskatchewan
December 12, 2002
Chrétien
April 2, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Lorna Ann Milne
Liberal
Ontario (Peel County )
September 22, 1995
Chrétien
December 13, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Grant Mitchell
Liberal
Alberta
March 24, 2005
Martin
July 19, 2026
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Percy Mockler
Conservative
New Brunswick
December 22, 2008
Harper
April 14, 2024
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Wilfred P. Moore
Liberal
Nova Scotia (Stanhope St./South Shore )
September 26, 1996
Chrétien
January 14, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Jim Munson
Liberal
Ontario (Ottawa /Rideau Canal )
December 10, 2003
Chrétien
July 24, 2021
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Progressive Conservatives |
Lowell Murray
Progressive Conservative
Ontario (Pakenham )
September 13, 1979
Clark
September 26, 2011
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Richard Neufeld
Conservative
British Columbia
December 22, 2008
Harper
November 6, 2019
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Pierre Claude Nolin
Conservative
Quebec (De Salaberry )
June 18, 1993
Mulroney
October 30, 2025
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Donald H. Oliver
Conservative
Nova Scotia (South Shore )
September 7, 1990
Mulroney
November 16, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Lucie Pépin
Liberal
Quebec (Shawinegan )
April 8, 1997
Chrétien
September 7, 2011
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Robert W. Peterson
Liberal
Saskatchewan
March 24, 2005
Martin
October 19, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Gerard A. Phalen
Liberal
Nova Scotia
October 4, 2001
Chrétien
March 28, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents |
P. Michael Pitfield
Independent
Ontario (Ottawa—Vanier )
December 22, 1982
Trudeau
June 18, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Marie-P. Poulin (Charette)
Liberal
Ontario (Northern Ontario )
September 22, 1995
Chrétien
June 21, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Vivienne Poy
Liberal
Ontario (Toronto )
September 17, 1998
Chrétien
May 15, 2016
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents |
Marcel Prud'homme
Independent
Quebec (La Salle )
May 26, 1993
Mulroney
November 30, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Pierrette Ringuette
Liberal
New Brunswick
December 12, 2002
Chrétien
December 31, 2030
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Michel Rivard
Conservative
Quebec
December 22, 2008
Harper
August 7, 2016
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents |
Jean-Claude Rivest
Independent
Quebec (Stadacona )
March 11, 1993
Mulroney
January 27, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Fernand Robichaud
Liberal
New Brunswick
September 23, 1997
Chrétien
December 2, 2014
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
William H. Rompkey
Liberal
Newfoundland and Labrador
September 22, 1995
Chrétien
May 13, 2011
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Nancy Ruth
Conservative
Ontario (Cluny)
March 24, 2005
Martin
January 6, 2017
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Hugh Segal
Conservative
Ontario (Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds )
August 2, 2005
Martin
October 13, 2025
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Nick G. Sibbeston
Liberal
Northwest Territories
September 2, 1999
Chrétien
November 21, 2018
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
David P. Smith
Liberal
Ontario (Cobourg )
June 25, 2002
Chrétien
May 16, 2016
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Independents |
Mira Spivak
Independent
Manitoba
November 17, 1986
Mulroney
July 12, 2009
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Gerry St. Germain
Conservative
British Columbia (Langley-Pemberton-Whistler )
June 23, 1993
Mulroney
November 6, 2012
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Peter A. Stollery
Liberal
Ontario (Bloor & Yonge )
July 2, 1981
Trudeau
November 29, 2010
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Terrance Richard Stratton
Conservative
Manitoba (Red River)
March 25, 1993
Mulroney
March 16, 2013
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Claudette Tardif
Liberal
Alberta
March 24, 2005
Martin
July 27, 2023
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
David Tkachuk
Conservative
Saskatchewan
June 8, 1993
Mulroney
February 18, 2020
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
John D. Wallace
Conservative
New Brunswick
December 22, 2008
Harper
March 26, 2024
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Conservative |
Pamela Wallin
Conservative
Saskatchewan
December 22, 2008
Harper
April 10, 2028
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Charlie Watt
Liberal
Quebec (Inkerman )
January 16, 1984
Trudeau
June 29, 2019
Template:Canadian politics/party colours/Liberal |
Rod A. A. Zimmer
Liberal
Manitoba
August 2, 2005
Martin
December 19, 2019
^ A. Quebec is the only province with Senate divisions that are constitutionally mandated. In all other provinces, a Senate division is strictly an optional designation of the senator's own choosing, and has no real constitutional or legal standing. A senator who does not choose a special senate division is considered a senator for the province at large.[1]
^ B. Senator Anne Cools was removed from Conservative caucus in 2007 for speaking out against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and for voting against the budget.[11] Cools had been appointed a Senator as a member of the Liberal Party by Pierre Trudeau, but crossed the floor to join the Conservatives in 2004.[12] The Parliament of Canada Web Site lists her as Non-Aligned Senator.
^ D. Senator Lillian Dyck was appointed as a Senator representing the New Democratic Party . However, the NDP has announced that she will not be accepted as a member of the party's caucus because they believe the Senate should be abolished.[13] She is designated as an Independent NDP .[14]
^ F. Senator Raymond Lavigne has temporarily been removed from the Liberal Caucus for allegedly misusing Senate funds for personal use.[15] He still identifies himself as a Liberal Senator and is listed as such on the Senate website.[16]
^ G. Senator Marjory LeBreton is the Leader of the Government in the Senate and is also the Secretary of State for Seniors in the 28th Ministry .[17]
Statistics
See also
References
^ a b c d e f g "A Legislative and Historical Overview of the Senate of Canada" . Parliament of Canada. 2001. Retrieved 2008-11-24 .
^ a b Makarenko, Jay (2007-06-01). "The Canadian Senate: Role, Powers & Operation" . MapleLeafWeb. Retrieved 2008-11-24 .
^ "Western premiers urge further Senate reform" . The Globe and Mail . 2006-05-30. Retrieved 2008-11-24 .
^ Knox, Jack (2008-11-27). "Barack hasn't called, so I'm aiming for Canadian Senate seat" . Times-Colonist . Retrieved 2008-11-27 .
^ Makarenko, Jay (2006-10-01). "Senate Reform in Canada" . MapleLeafWeb. Retrieved 2008-11-24 .
^ a b Curry, Bill; Brian Laghli (2008-05-19). "Saskatchewan plans to elect senators" . The Globe and Mail . Retrieved 2008-11-24 . {{cite news }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ Yaffe, Barbara (2008-06-22). "Move for an elected Senate will take time and patience" . The Montreal Gazette . Canwest News Service. Retrieved 2008-11-28 .
^ "Wallin, Duffy among 18 named to fill Senate seats" . CBC News. 2008-12-22. Retrieved 2008-12-22 .
^ "Women in the Senate" . Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2008-12-01 .
^ a b "Dion shuffles parliamentary team" . Canada.com. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2008-12-06 .
^ Aubry, Jack (2007-06-25). "Tories turf Cools to sit as independent senator" . Ottawa Citizen . Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Liberal Senator Cools becomes a Conservative" . CTV. 2004-06-08. Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Dallaire, Eggleton among new senators: Martin" . CTV . 2005-03-24. Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Lillian Eva Dyck - Independent New Democratic Party" . Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Liberal Senator Lavigne kicked out of caucus" . CTV. 2006-06-09. Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Raymond Lavigne - Liberal Party of Canada" . Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2008-11-23 .
^ "Cabinets then and now" . National Post . Canwest News Service. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2008-12-06 .