Seats are allocated 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. 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.
The distribution of seats has been criticized for not being proportional per region. For example, Ontario has 40 percent of Canada's population but only 24 seats, while the smaller Atlantic provinces have a combined 30, and British Columbia, the third most populous province, only has six seats.
Senate reform is a recurring issue in Canadian politics. One of the systems most often proposed 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. Alberta is the only province that holds Senate nominee elections, although Saskatchewan plans to hold their own as well. 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.
Currently, there are 88 senators and 17 vacancies. There are 35 women in the Senate. The Conservative Party currently holds 52 seats, a majority (ignoring vacancies). Active senators have been appointed on the advice of five different prime ministers: Stephen Harper, Paul Martin, Jean Chrétien, Brian Mulroney and Pierre Trudeau. Anne Cools is the longest-serving current senator; she was appointed on the advice of Pierre Trudeau in 1984.
Key
Speaker of the Senate (Pierre Claude Nolin)
| |
Leader of the Government in the Senate (Claude Carignan)
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Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Jim Cowan)
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Deputy Leader of the Government
(Yonah Martin) |
Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joan Fraser)
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Government Whip (Elizabeth Marshall)
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Opposition Whip (Jim Munson)
|
| Name | Party | Province (Division)† | Date appointed | Appointed on the advice of | Mandatory retirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andreychuk, RaynellRaynell Andreychuk | Conservative | Saskatchewan | March 11, 1993 | Mulroney | August 14, 2019 | |
| Ataullahjan, SalmaSalma Ataullahjan | Conservative | Ontario (Toronto) | July 9, 2010 | Harper | April 29, 2027 | |
| Baker, GeorgeGeorge Baker | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Newfoundland and Labrador | March 26, 2002 | Chrétien | September 4, 2017 | |
| Batters, DeniseDenise Batters | Conservative | Saskatchewan | January 25, 2013 | Harper | June 18, 2045 | |
| Bellemare, DianeDiane Bellemare | Conservative | Quebec (Alma) | September 6, 2012 | Harper | October 13, 2024 | |
| Beyak, LynnLynn Beyak | Conservative | Ontario | January 25, 2013 | Harper | February 18, 2024 | |
| Black, DougDoug Black | Conservative | Alberta | January 25, 2013 | Harper | May 10, 2027 | |
| Boisvenu, Pierre-HuguesPierre-Hugues Boisvenu | Conservative | Quebec (La Salle) | January 29, 2010 | Harper | February 12, 2024 | |
| Brazeau, PatrickPatrick Brazeau* | Independent | Quebec (Repentigny) | January 8, 2009 | Harper | November 11, 2049 | |
| Campbell, Larry W.Larry W. Campbell | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | British Columbia | August 2, 2005 | Martin | February 28, 2023 | |
| Carignan, ClaudeClaude Carignan | Conservative | Quebec (Mille Isles) | August 27, 2009 | Harper | December 4, 2039 | |
| Chaput, MariaMaria Chaput | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Manitoba | December 12, 2002 | Chrétien | May 7, 2017 | |
| Charette-Poulin, MarieMarie Charette-Poulin | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Ontario (Northern Ontario) | September 21, 1995 | Chrétien | June 21, 2020 | |
| Cools, Anne C.Anne C. Cools | Independent | Ontario (Toronto Centre-York) | January 13, 1984 | Trudeau | August 12, 2018 | |
| Cordy, Jane MarieJane Marie Cordy | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Nova Scotia | June 9, 2000 | Chrétien | July 2, 2025 | |
| Cowan, JimJim Cowan | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Nova Scotia | March 24, 2005 | Martin | January 22, 2017 | |
| Dagenais, Jean-GuyJean-Guy Dagenais | Conservative | Quebec (Victoria) | January 17, 2012 | Harper | February 2, 2025 | |
| Dawson, DennisDennis Dawson | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (Lauzon) | August 2, 2005 | Martin | September 28, 2024 | |
| Day, Joseph A.Joseph A. Day | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | New Brunswick (Saint John-Kennebecasis) | October 4, 2001 | Chrétien | January 24, 2020 | |
| Demers, JacquesJacques Demers | Conservative | Quebec (Rigaud) | August 27, 2009 | Harper | August 25, 2019 | |
| Downe, Percy E.Percy E. Downe | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown) | June 26, 2003 | Chrétien | July 8, 2029 | |
| Doyle, NormanNorman Doyle | Conservative | Newfoundland and Labrador | January 6, 2012 | Harper | November 11, 2020 | |
| Duffy, MichaelMichael Duffy* | Independent | Prince Edward Island (Cavendish) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | May 27, 2021 | |
| Dyck, Lillian EvaLillian Eva Dyck | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Saskatchewan | March 24, 2005 | Martin | August 24, 2020 | |
| Eaton, NicoleNicole Eaton | Conservative | Ontario (Caledon) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | January 21, 2020 | |
| Eggleton, ArtArt Eggleton | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Ontario | March 24, 2005 | Martin | September 29, 2018 | |
| Enverga, Tobias C.Tobias C. Enverga | Conservative | Ontario | September 6, 2012 | Harper | December 2, 2030 | |
| Fortin-Duplessis, SuzanneSuzanne Fortin-Duplessis | Conservative | Quebec (Rougemont) | January 14, 2009 | Harper | June 20, 2015 | |
| Fraser, JoanJoan Fraser | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (De Lorimier) | September 17, 1998 | Chrétien | October 12, 2019 | |
| Frum, LindaLinda Frum | Conservative | Ontario | August 27, 2009 | Harper | January 13, 2038 | |
| Furey, GeorgeGeorge Furey | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Newfoundland and Labrador | August 11, 1999 | Chrétien | May 12, 2023 | |
| Gerstein, IrvingIrving Gerstein | Conservative | Ontario (Toronto) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | February 10, 2016 | |
| Greene, StephenStephen Greene | Conservative | Nova Scotia (Halifax) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | December 8, 2024 | |
| Raine, Nancy GreeneNancy Greene Raine | Conservative | British Columbia (Sun Peaks) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | May 11, 2018 | |
| Hervieux-Payette, CélineCéline Hervieux-Payette | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (Bedford) | March 21, 1995 | Chrétien | April 22, 2016 | |
| Housakos, LeoLeo Housakos | Conservative | Quebec (Wellington) | January 8, 2009 | Harper | January 10, 2043 | |
| Hubley, LibbeLibbe Hubley | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Prince Edward Island | March 8, 2001 | Chrétien | September 8, 2017 | |
| Jaffer, Mobina S.B.Mobina S.B. Jaffer | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | British Columbia | June 13, 2001 | Chrétien | August 20, 2024 | |
| Johnson, Janis G.Janis G. Johnson | Conservative | Manitoba (Winnipeg - Interlake) | September 27, 1990 | Mulroney | April 27, 2021 | |
| Joyal, SergeSerge Joyal | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (Kennebec) | November 26, 1997 | Chrétien | February 1, 2020 | |
| Kenny, ColinColin Kenny | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Ontario (Rideau) | June 29, 1984 | Trudeau | December 10, 2018 | |
| Lang, Hector DanielHector Daniel Lang | Conservative | Yukon (Whitehorse) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | April 3, 2023 | |
| LeBreton, MarjoryMarjory LeBreton | Conservative | Ontario | June 18, 1993 | Mulroney | July 4, 2015 | |
| Lovelace Nicholas, Sandra M.Sandra M. Lovelace Nicholas | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | New Brunswick | September 21, 2005 | Martin | April 15, 2023 | |
| MacDonald, Michael L.Michael L. MacDonald | Conservative | Nova Scotia (Dartmouth) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | May 4, 2030 | |
| Maltais, GhislainGhislain Maltais | Conservative | Quebec (Shawinigan) | January 6, 2012 | Harper | April 22, 2019 | |
| Manning, FabianFabian Manning | Conservative | Newfoundland and Labrador | May 25, 2011 | Harper | May 21, 2039 | |
| Marshall, ElizabethElizabeth Marshall | Conservative | Newfoundland and Labrador | January 29, 2010 | Harper | September 7, 2026 | |
| Martin, YonahYonah Martin | Conservative | British Columbia (Vancouver) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | April 11, 2040 | |
| Massicotte, Paul J.Paul J. Massicotte | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (De Lanaudière) | June 26, 2003 | Chrétien | September 10, 2026 | |
| McCoy, ElaineElaine McCoy | Independent Progressive Conservative | Alberta | March 24, 2005 | Martin | March 7, 2021 | |
| McInnis, TomTom McInnis | Conservative | Nova Scotia | September 6, 2012 | Harper | April 9, 2020 | |
| McIntyre, PaulPaul McIntyre | Conservative | New Brunswick | September 6, 2012 | Harper | November 2, 2019 | |
| Mercer, Terry M.Terry M. Mercer | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax) | November 7, 2003 | Chrétien | May 6, 2022 | |
| Merchant, PanaPana Merchant | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Saskatchewan | December 12, 2002 | Chrétien | April 2, 2018 | |
| Don MeredithDon Meredith | Conservative | Ontario | December 18, 2010 | Harper | July 13, 2039 | |
| Mitchell, GrantGrant Mitchell | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Alberta | March 24, 2005 | Martin | July 19, 2026 | |
| Mockler, PercyPercy Mockler | Conservative | New Brunswick (Saint-Léonard) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | April 14, 2024 | |
| Moore, Wilfred P.Wilfred P. Moore | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Nova Scotia (Stanhope St./South Shore) | September 26, 1996 | Chrétien | January 14, 2017 | |
| Munson, JimJim Munson | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Ontario (Ottawa/Rideau Canal) | December 10, 2003 | Chrétien | July 24, 2021 | |
| Nancy Ruth | Conservative | Ontario (Cluny) | March 24, 2005 | Martin | January 6, 2017 | |
| Neufeld, RichardRichard Neufeld | Conservative | British Columbia (Charlie Lake) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | November 6, 2019 | |
| Ngo, Thanh HaiThanh Hai Ngo | Conservative | Ontario | September 6, 2012 | Harper | January 3, 2022 | |
| Nolin, Pierre ClaudePierre Claude Nolin | Conservative | Quebec (De Salaberry) | June 18, 1993 | Mulroney | October 30, 2025 | |
| Ogilvie, KelvinKelvin Ogilvie | Conservative | Nova Scotia | August 27, 2009 | Harper | November 6, 2017 | |
| Oh, VictorVictor Oh | Conservative | Ontario | January 25, 2013 | Harper | June 10, 2024 | |
| Patterson, DennisDennis Patterson | Conservative | Nunavut | August 27, 2009 | Harper | December 30, 2023 | |
| Plett, DonDon Plett | Conservative | Manitoba | August 27, 2009 | Harper | May 14, 2025 | |
| Poirier, Rose-MayRose-May Poirier | Conservative | New Brunswick | February 28, 2010 | Harper | March 2, 2029 | |
| Ringuette, PierrettePierrette Ringuette | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | New Brunswick | December 12, 2002 | Chrétien | December 31, 2030 | |
| Rivard, MichelMichel Rivard | Conservative | Quebec (The Laurentides) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | August 7, 2016 | |
| Rivest, Jean-ClaudeJean-Claude Rivest | Independent | Quebec (Stadacona) | March 11, 1993 | Mulroney | January 27, 2018 | |
| Runciman, BobBob Runciman | Conservative | Ontario | January 29, 2010 | Harper | August 10, 2017 | |
| Seidman, JudithJudith Seidman | Conservative | Quebec (De la Durantaye) | August 27, 2009 | Harper | September 1, 2025 | |
| Sibbeston, Nick G.Nick G. Sibbeston | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Northwest Territories | September 2, 1999 | Chrétien | November 21, 2018 | |
| Smith, David P.David P. Smith | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Ontario (Cobourg) | June 25, 2002 | Chrétien | May 16, 2016 | |
| Smith, LarryLarry Smith | Conservative | Quebec (Saurel) | May 25, 2011 | Harper | April 28, 2026 | |
| Stewart-Olsen, CarolynCarolyn Stewart-Olsen | Conservative | New Brunswick | August 27, 2009 | Harper | July 27, 2021 | |
| Tannas, ScottScott Tannas | Conservative | Alberta | March 25, 2013 | Harper | February 25, 2037 | |
| Tardif, ClaudetteClaudette Tardif | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Alberta | March 24, 2005 | Martin | July 27, 2023 | |
| Tkachuk, DavidDavid Tkachuk | Conservative | Saskatchewan | June 8, 1993 | Mulroney | February 18, 2020 | |
| Unger, BettyBetty Unger | Conservative | Alberta | January 6, 2012 | Harper | August 8, 2018 | |
| Verner, JoséeJosée Verner | Conservative | Quebec (Montarville) | June 13, 2011 | Harper | December 30, 2034 | |
| Wallace, John D.John D. Wallace | Conservative | New Brunswick (Rothesay) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | March 26, 2024 | |
| Wallin, PamelaPamela Wallin* | Independent | Saskatchewan (Kuroki Beach) | January 2, 2009 | Harper | April 10, 2028 | |
| Watt, CharlieCharlie Watt | Liberal (Senate caucus)‡ | Quebec (Inkerman) | January 16, 1984 | Trudeau | June 29, 2019 | |
| Wells, DavidDavid Wells | Conservative | Newfoundland and Labrador | January 25, 2013 | Harper | February 28, 2037 | |
| White, VernonVernon White | Conservative | Ontario | February 20, 2012 | Harper | February 21, 2034 |
