Trudeau nominates six Senators to represent Quebec

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By Femi Shodunke

CANADA: NO fewer than six new independent Senators from Quebec Province have been picked by Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, to join the Senate.

But by the Canadian convention, the Governor General appoints people to the Senate, and it is based on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Trudeau put forward the names of Renee Dupuis, Eric Forest, Roza Galvez, Marc Gold, Marie-Francoise Megie and Raymonde Saint-Germain to the Governor General, David Johnston, for approval.

The Prime Minister, who made the disclosure on Wednesday, said that the move was in furtherance of his administration’s concrete steps to follow through on its commitment to improve the appointments process, and to restore public trust in a reformed Senate.

The Prime Minister Office (PMO) said in a statement that the individuals being recommended for Johnston’s approval to the Senate were chosen using the Government of Canada’s new merit-based process – which is designed to help ensure that the Senate is independent, reflective of Canada’s diversity, and best able to tackle the broad range of challenges and opportunities facing the country.

The new Senators are being recommended under the new process for appointment to the Senate, the PMO said.

It stated that additional information on the first cycle of the permanent process would be made public when the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments completes its report to the Prime Minister later this year.

“In keeping with our commitment to Canadians, all vacant Senate seats will soon be filled,” the Prime Minister said.

He stressed: “Once appointed, these six exceptional candidates from Quebec, together with the other recent nominees, will be able to contribute to a Senate which is reflective of our great country.”

“I would like to thank all Canadians who applied to be members of the Senate, as well as extend my gratitude to the members of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments for their excellent work,” Trudeau also said.

It would be recalled that Trudeau had earlier last Tuesday recommendation six senators for the Governor General’s approval to enable them represent Ontario in the Senate.

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