Carney names his principal secretary and a Conservative MP to Senate
Carney’s first Senate picks include a senior Liberal strategist and a Conservative MP as Ottawa shifts away from Trudeau’s independent-only model.
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced four Senate appointments, including Conservative MP Richard Martel and principal secretary Tom Pitfield, while ending the Trudeau-era non-partisan selection criteria.
- Government sources cited the Senate's rejected amendments and delays in passing bail legislation as primary drivers for the policy shift, as Carney aims to reassert control over the legislative process.
- Martel resigned from the House of Commons on Tuesday to accept his seat, triggering a by-election in Quebec's Chicoutimi—Le Fjord riding where he narrowly won in 2025 with 34.1 per cent of the vote.
- Conservative Senate Leader Leo Housakos welcomed his "longtime friend and colleague" Martel, while Dr. Rodney Ouellette and Geeta Tucker also received appointments, as Carney's office indicated a new advisory board will be established shortly.
- With five vacant seats remaining in the 105-member Senate, the government anticipates additional retirements through the end of 2026, marking a departure from the arms-length advisory model Justin Trudeau implemented in 2015.
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Carney defends appointment of his principal secretary to Senate
ANKARA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is defending the appointment of his principal secretary Tom Pitfield to the Senate. Pitfield, a longtime Liberal strategist, was one of four new appointments announced Tuesday, as the prime minister drops the non-par...
Carney Names New Senators, Including Close Adviser, Tory MP
Prime Minister Mark Carney has made his first Senate appointments, naming his principal secretary, Thomas Pitfield, and Conservative MP Richard Martel to the upper chamber. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced the appointments on July 7 while Carney was attending the NATO Summit in Turkey. Pitfield and Martel have been named senators for the province of Quebec. Two other senators will also be appointed, including physician Dr. Rodney Ouel…
TVA Nouvelles
Conservative MP Richard Martel will leave to become a senator.
He became the fifth Conservative MP to leave his party caucus in recent months.
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