Trudeau picks six Senators for Governor-General’s approval

…New senators to represent Ontario Province

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CANADA: PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau has recommended six independent Senators for the approval of the Governor-General, David Johnston.

Trudeau said on Monday that the senators, who were picked among the over 2,700 applicants who applied for the seats, would represent Ontario Province in Ottawa, the seat of Parliament and government.

Those recommended are Gwen Boniface, Tony Dean, Sarabjit S. Marwah, Lucie Moncion, Kim Pate and Howard Weston.

The Prime Minister Office (PMO) said in a release made available to GatewayMail that the step by Trudeau was “to follow through on its commitment to improve the appointments process, and to restore public trust in a reformed Senate.”

The PMO said that those recommended were chosen using the Government of Canada’s new merit-based process.

According to the PMO, the process was designed to help ensure that the Senate is independent, reflect Canada’s diversity and best able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

“An announcement about further appointments to the Senate will be made in the near future,” it said, adding: “Additional information on the first cycle of the permanent process will be made public when the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments completes its report to the Prime Minister later this year.”

While making the announcement, Trudeau said: “I am pleased today to put forward six exceptional candidates as new Senators representing Ontario.

“These men and women were selected using the Government’s new merit-based system, a real example of democracy in action that will contribute to a more modern and independent Upper Chamber.”

Trudeau stressed: “I look forward to working with those summoned to the Senate and seeing them use their remarkable knowledge and experience to benefit our great country.”
It will be recalled that under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints people to the Senate, but by convention, it is based on the advice of the Prime Minister.

GatewayMail gathered that for the first time ever, the process was opened up to allow Canadians to apply.

“Following a four-week application period, which generated over 2,700 applications from Canadians across the country, the candidate

submissions were reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which then provided the Prime Minister with non-binding recommendations,” the PMO said.

It added: “From that pool of candidates, the Prime Minister selected the six people he will recommend to the Governor General for appointment to the Senate.

In making their recommendations, the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments was guided by public, transparent, non-partisan and merit-based criteria to identify highly-qualified people.”

The PMO emphasised: “Once appointed by the Governor General and summoned to the Senate, the new Senators will join their peers in examining and revising legislation, investigating national issues, and representing regional, provincial and minority interests – all important functions in a modern democracy.”