Senators
The Senate is the "second chamber" — it reviews bills the House of Commons passes before they become law.
What is a Senator?
Canada has up to 105 senators. Seats are divided by region (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario, West, North) so smaller provinces get proportionally more senators per person than Ontario does.
How they get there: Senators are NOT elected. The Prime Minister picks them; the Governor General formally appoints them. Each senator serves until age 75. This is the most-criticized part of Canada's political system — there's been ongoing debate for decades about whether to make it elected, reformed, or abolished.
What they do:
- Review bills passed by the House — can amend or reject them (rarely does)
- Sponsor their own bills — those start with "S-" (Senate-originated)
- Study specific issues through Senate committees
96 senators
- no photoCharles S. AdlerCSGManitobaAppointed 2024-08-16 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMohammad Khair Al ZaibakCSGOntarioAppointed 2024-01-28 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoDawn AndersonCNorthwest TerritoriesAppointed 2018-12-12 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoDawn ArnoldISGNew BrunswickAppointed 2025-03-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoDavid M. ArnotISGSaskatchewanAppointed 2021-07-29 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Salma AtaullahjanCOntario · Whip of the OppositionAppointed 2010-07-09 by Harper, Stephen (C)- no photoRéjean AucoinCSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2023-10-31 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMichèle AudettePSGQuebecAppointed 2021-07-29 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Denise BattersCSaskatchewan · Chair of the Conservative CaucusAppointed 2013-01-25 by Harper, Stephen (C)- no photoWanda Thomas BernardPSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Robert BlackCSGOntario · Deputy LeaderAppointed 2018-02-15 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoPeter M. BoehmISGOntarioAppointed 2018-10-03 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoVictor BoudreauISGNew BrunswickAppointed 2024-06-28 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoYvonne BoyerISGOntarioAppointed 2018-03-15 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPatrick BrazeauNonQuebecAppointed 2009-01-08 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoSharon BureyCSGOntarioAppointed 2022-11-21 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoBev BussonISGBritish ColumbiaAppointed 2018-09-24 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoAndrew CardozoPSGOntarioAppointed 2022-11-21 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoClaude CarignanCQuebecAppointed 2009-08-27 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoBernadette ClementISGOntarioAppointed 2021-06-22 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
René CormierISGNew Brunswick · Speaker pro temporeAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoMary CoyleISGNova ScotiaAppointed 2017-12-04 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoRodger CuznerPSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2023-10-31 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Pierre J. DalphondISGQuebec · Legislative LiaisonAppointed 2018-06-06 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoDonna DaskoISGOntarioAppointed 2018-06-06 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoColin DeaconCSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2018-06-15 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMarty DeaconISGOntarioAppointed 2018-02-15 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoTony DeanISGOntarioAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoBaltej S. DhillonISGBritish ColumbiaAppointed 2025-02-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPercy E. DowneCSGPrince Edward IslandAppointed 2003-06-26 by Chrétien, Jean (Lib.)
Pat DuncanGROYukon · Deputy Government Liaison in the SenateAppointed 2018-12-12 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoÉric ForestISGQuebecAppointed 2016-11-21 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Brian FrancisPSGPrince Edward Island · LeaderAppointed 2018-10-11 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoDaryl S. FridhandlerPSGAlbertaAppointed 2024-08-30 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Raymonde GagnéNonManitoba · SpeakerAppointed 2016-04-01 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoRosa GalvezISGQuebecAppointed 2016-12-06 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Amina GerbaPSGQuebec · LiaisonAppointed 2021-07-29 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoClément GignacCSGQuebecAppointed 2021-07-29 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMargo GreenwoodISGBritish ColumbiaAppointed 2022-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPeter HarderPSGOntarioAppointed 2016-03-23 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoKatherine HayPSGOntarioAppointed 2025-03-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoDanièle HenkelPSGQuebecAppointed 2025-02-14 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Leo HousakosCQuebec · Leader of the OppositionAppointed 2009-01-08 by Harper, Stephen (C)- no photoMartine HébertISGQuebecAppointed 2025-02-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoTony InceCSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2025-03-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoNancy Karetak-LindellISGNunavutAppointed 2024-12-19 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Joan KingstonISGNew Brunswick · Deputy FacilitatorAppointed 2023-10-31 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoMarty KlynePSGSaskatchewanAppointed 2018-09-24 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoStan KutcherISGNova ScotiaAppointed 2018-12-12 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Patti LaBoucane-BensonGROAlberta · Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative in the SenateAppointed 2018-10-03 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Todd LewisCSGSaskatchewan · Deputy LiaisonAppointed 2025-02-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoTony LoffredaISGQuebecAppointed 2019-07-22 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoJane MacAdamISGPrince Edward IslandAppointed 2023-05-03 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMichael L. MacDonaldCNova ScotiaAppointed 2009-01-02 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoFabian ManningCNewfoundland and LabradorAppointed 2011-05-25 by Harper, Stephen (C)
Yonah MartinCBritish Columbia · Deputy Leader of the OppositionAppointed 2009-01-02 by Harper, Stephen (C)- no photoMarnie McBeanISGOntarioAppointed 2023-12-20 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMary Jane McCallumCManitobaAppointed 2017-12-04 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoJohn M. McNairISGNew BrunswickAppointed 2023-10-31 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMarilou McPhedranNonManitobaAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoJulie Miville-DechênePSGQuebecAppointed 2018-06-20 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoFarah MohamedISGOntarioAppointed 2025-03-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Lucie MoncionISGOntario · FacilitatorAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoRosemary MoodieISGOntarioAppointed 2018-12-12 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Pierre MoreauGROQuebec · Government Representative in the SenateAppointed 2024-09-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Tracy MuggliPSGSaskatchewan · Deputy Liaison and Caucus ChairAppointed 2024-08-16 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Flordeliz (Gigi) OslerCSGManitoba · LeaderAppointed 2022-09-26 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoManuelle OudarISGQuebecAppointed 2024-02-13 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoKim PateISGOntarioAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoRebecca PattersonCSGOntarioAppointed 2022-11-21 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Chantal PetitclercISGQuebec · Chair of DeliberationsAppointed 2016-04-01 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Iris G. PettenGRONewfoundland and Labrador · Government Liaison in the SenateAppointed 2023-05-03 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoRose-May PoirierCNew BrunswickAppointed 2010-02-28 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoPaul (PJ) ProsperCSGNova ScotiaAppointed 2023-07-06 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Sandra PupatelloGROOntario · Chair of the Government Representative’s Office in the SenateAppointed 2025-03-07 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoJim QuinnCSGNew BrunswickAppointed 2021-06-22 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoMohamed-Iqbal RavaliaISGNewfoundland and LabradorAppointed 2018-06-01 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPierrette RinguetteISGNew BrunswickAppointed 2002-12-12 by Chrétien, Jean (Lib.)
Mary RobinsonCSGPrince Edward Island · ChairAppointed 2024-01-22 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Krista RossCSGNew Brunswick · LiaisonAppointed 2023-10-31 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoRaymonde Saint-GermainISGQuebecAppointed 2016-11-25 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPaulette SeniorISGOntarioAppointed 2023-12-20 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoPaula SimonsISGAlbertaAppointed 2018-10-03 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoKaren SorensenPSGAlbertaAppointed 2021-07-29 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoAllister SuretteISGNova ScotiaAppointed 2024-12-19 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoScott TannasCSGAlbertaAppointed 2013-03-25 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoToni VaroneISGOntarioAppointed 2023-12-20 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoJosée VernerCSGQuebecAppointed 2011-06-13 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoPamela WallinCSGSaskatchewanAppointed 2009-01-02 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoDavid M. WellsCNewfoundland and LabradorAppointed 2013-01-25 by Harper, Stephen (C)
- no photoKristopher WellsPSGAlbertaAppointed 2024-08-30 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Judy A. WhitePSGNewfoundland and Labrador · Deputy LeaderAppointed 2023-07-06 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)- no photoDuncan WilsonPSGBritish ColumbiaAppointed 2025-02-28 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoYuen Pau WooISGBritish ColumbiaAppointed 2016-11-10 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoSuze YouanceISGQuebecAppointed 2024-09-25 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
- no photoHassan YussuffISGOntarioAppointed 2021-06-22 by Trudeau, Justin (Lib.)
Affiliation codes
ISGIndependent Senators Group
CSGCanadian Senators Group
GROGovernment Representatives' Office
CConservative
PSGProgressive Senate Group