PM Harper appoints 5 new senators
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed five new senators to sit in the Upper Chamber, including one chosen by voters in Alberta.
Harper made the announcement in a press release Friday afternoon.
The new senators are:
Black was selected by voters in Alberta in a Senate consultation process last spring. Sometimes referred to as Senate elections, they are non-binding votes run in conjunction with provincial elections.
Black outpolled all other candidates in last year's provincial Senate race.
Senators are formally appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister.
All new appointees have pledged to support the government in its efforts to make the Senate more democratic and accountable, including legislation to limit the term lengths of senators, and encouraging the provinces and territories to hold a democratic process to select nominees for appointment to the Senate, according to the news release that announced the appointments.
"I look forward to working with these talented individuals in Parliament," Harper said in the release.
"Their collective experience and dedication are most welcome as our Government continues to work on addressing the needs and expectations of Canadians from coast to coast to coast."
PM Harper appoints 5 new senators - Politics - CBC News
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has appointed five new senators to sit in the Upper Chamber, including one chosen by voters in Alberta.
Harper made the announcement in a press release Friday afternoon.
The new senators are:
- Denise Batters, a Regina lawyer and mental-health expert whose late husband, former MP Dave Batters, committed suicide.
- Lynn Beyak, a small business owner from Dryden, Ont., with experience in real estate, insurance and tourism.
- Doug Black, a Calgary lawyer, as well as vice-chair and senior counsel of the law firm Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP.
- Victor Oh, a Mississauga, Ont., entrepreneur and president of Wyford Holdings, a property development and management business.
- David Wells, a St. John's executive who most recently served as deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board.
Black was selected by voters in Alberta in a Senate consultation process last spring. Sometimes referred to as Senate elections, they are non-binding votes run in conjunction with provincial elections.
Black outpolled all other candidates in last year's provincial Senate race.
Senators are formally appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister.
All new appointees have pledged to support the government in its efforts to make the Senate more democratic and accountable, including legislation to limit the term lengths of senators, and encouraging the provinces and territories to hold a democratic process to select nominees for appointment to the Senate, according to the news release that announced the appointments.
"I look forward to working with these talented individuals in Parliament," Harper said in the release.
"Their collective experience and dedication are most welcome as our Government continues to work on addressing the needs and expectations of Canadians from coast to coast to coast."
PM Harper appoints 5 new senators - Politics - CBC News