Senate appointments
Applications for Senate appointments
Canadians have the opportunity to apply directly for a Senate appointment on a year-round basis through an open application process based on merit-based criteria and requirements under the Constitution. Applications are retained for a two-year period beginning at the time of application.
Applications are reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments (Advisory Board), once a current or anticipated vacancy in the Senate has emerged.
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Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments
An Advisory Board is an independent and non-partisan body whose mandate is to provide non-binding, merit-based recommendations to the Prime Minister on Senate appointments.
Established in 2016, the Advisory Board assesses applications based on public, merit-based criteria to identify Canadians who would make a significant contribution to the work of the Senate. The criteria help to ensure a high standard of integrity, collaboration, and non-partisanship in the Senate.
The Advisory Board consists of three permanent federal members and two members from each of the provinces or territories where a vacancy is to be filled‍, with all members appointed for a term not exceeding three years. The Advisory Board is chaired by one of the federal members and is supported by the Privy Council Office.
The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, appoints the Advisory Board members. Consultations with provincial or territorial governments are undertaken to inform the appointment of provincial or territorial members.
Individuals are selected based on a number of criteria, including their backgrounds and skills, as well as their ability to conduct work with objectivity and integrity and in a non-partisan manner.
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