Each new Senator pledges to support Canada’s elected government, promote Canadian unity and advance Senate reform
22 December 2008
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Harper today announced that he will appoint 18 distinguished Canadians to serve in Canada’s Senate.
“Our government will continue to push for a more democratic, accountable and effective Senate,” said the Prime Minister. “If Senate vacancies are to be filled, however, they should be filled by the government that Canadians elected rather than by a coalition that no one voted for.”
The incoming Senators have all pledged to support eight-year term limits and other Senate reform legislation. Each incoming Senator has also declared his or her unwavering commitment to support Canadian unity and oppose the coalition.
Four of the incoming Senators will fill vacancies from the Province of Quebec. Incoming senators will fill three vacancies in British Columbia and Nova Scotia while two vacancies are being filled in Ontario and New Brunswick. One vacancy is being filled in each of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
“While I look forward to welcoming elected Senators to the Upper Chamber in the future, these current vacancies must be filled in order for the Senate to transact legitimate government business,” said the Prime Minister. “If the opposition parties do not approve of these Senate appointments they should stop obstructing our attempts to introduce meaningful Senate reform. For our part, we will continue working with the provinces and reform-minded parliamentarians to build a more accountable and democratic Senate.”
Biographies of the new Senators are attached.
