News
4 new independent senators sworn in
There is one Senate vacancy in Manitoba.
Four new independent senators took their seats in Senate for the first time following a swearing in ceremony.
Senator Dawn Arnold (New Brunswick) and Senator Farah Mohamed (Ontario) were sworn in on Wednesday, and Senator Nancy Karetak-Lindell (Nunavut) and Senator Todd Lewis (Saskatchewan) were sworn in on Thursday.
The new senators were appointed on the recommendation of an independent advisory board with a mandate to provide merit-based recommendations for Senate appointments. They join eight other new independent senators who were sworn in on Monday.
Thanks to the independent appointment process, the Senate is more diverse than ever before. More than half of all senators are women, there is greater Indigenous representation than ever before, and there is a broader range of backgrounds, both professionally and culturally.
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- Senator Arnold brings more than 30 years of experience in municipal government, community development and publishing. In 2016, she made history as the first woman to serve as Mayor of Moncton. (Photo: Senate of Canada)
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- Senator Mohamed spent 30 years working alongside politicians, philanthropists and business leaders to improve the lives of Canadians, especially young people, newcomers, and women. (Photo: Senate of Canada)
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- Senator Karetak-Lindell has been a strong voice for the North in Canada, advocating for the region’s unique cultural, economic, and environmental interests. She was the first Member of Parliament to represent the newly established riding of Nunavut in 1997. (Photo: Senate of Canada)
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- Senator Lewis is a fourth-generation farmer and a dedicated champion for Saskatchewan’s agricultural community. (Photo: Senate of Canada)
Senator Marc Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate, welcomed the new senators.
