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In a definitive move, Prime Minister Mark Carney has decided against allowing senators to rejoin the Liberal caucus, a stance that is likely to shape the dynamics of the Senate going forward. This decision, revealed by a senior government official on Thursday, puts to rest speculation regarding a potential shift in approach from the previous administration under Justin Trudeau. Since taking office last spring, Carney has yet to appoint any senators, and the implications of this decision are already reverberating through parliamentary corridors.
Continuation of Trudeau’s Senate Policy
Carney’s announcement is a continuation of the policy initiated by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who expelled Liberal senators from the party’s caucus in 2014 amid the Senate expense scandal. Since then, the Senate has been governed by an independent advisory panel tasked with recommending appointments, a strategy that was intended to diminish partisanship. However, critics, especially from the Conservative Party, argue that this objective has not been fully realised.
Despite the advisory board’s ongoing role, Carney has refrained from making new appointments since he assumed office. The lack of new senators has left the Senate with nine vacancies out of a total of 105 members, with six more anticipated retirements by the close of 2026. The advisory board itself faces an even larger crisis, currently operating with just five members while 24 positions remain unfilled, and it is not even accepting applications for new Senate roles.
Government’s Position on Senate Functionality
The Privy Council Office has remained tight-lipped about when new appointments might be expected, with spokesperson Pierre-Alain Bujold offering only that information would be released “in due course.” In response to inquiries about Carney’s plans, his spokesperson, Audrey Champoux, emphasised that the government believes the Senate is functioning effectively and has made significant strides in debating and passing vital legislation.
Since Trudeau’s decision to remove senators from caucus, they have formed distinct groups within the Senate. Currently, the Conservatives maintain representation, while the remainder of the chamber is divided among the Independent Senators Group, the Canadian Senators Group, and the Progressive Senate Group, alongside unaffiliated senators and five members of the Government Representative’s Office in the Senate.
The Senate’s Sentiment on Party Affiliation
While Carney’s decision has not been formally articulated, it resonates with the prevailing sentiment among senators. Senator Rodger Cuzner, a former Liberal MP appointed in 2023, noted that there is “not an overwhelming sense” among senators to rejoin the federal caucus. Similarly, Senator Percy Downe, one of the few remaining senators expelled from the Liberal caucus, remarked that the issue is largely irrelevant. “You can’t go where you’re not invited,” he stated, highlighting a general acceptance of their current status.
Downe acknowledged that while some senators express a desire to return to the Liberal fold, the need to influence government policy remains achievable outside of the caucus. He pointed out that despite senators being appointed through an independent board, many still align closely with Liberal ideologies. He remarked, “The vast majority of people appointed by Justin Trudeau are certainly Liberal Party supporters or leaning Liberal.”
The Senate, particularly during Trudeau’s nine-year tenure, has seen a significant shift in its composition, now featuring just 11 Conservative members among 105. To be recognised as an official parliamentary group, a party requires at least nine senators, a threshold that has left the Conservatives at a disadvantage.
Calls for a More Representative Senate
Last month, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre urged Carney to appoint Conservative senators, arguing that the Senate should reflect the electoral results of the last general election, where 41% of votes were cast for the Conservatives. Downe expressed his expectation that Carney would eventually address this imbalance, asserting that a functioning Senate requires an official opposition to prevent it from devolving into an “echo chamber.”
Why it Matters
Carney’s decision to exclude senators from the Liberal caucus signals a commitment to maintaining the status quo established by Trudeau, but it raises critical questions about the Senate’s representational integrity and effectiveness. As the chamber grapples with significant vacancies and shifting allegiances, the need for a more balanced representation becomes ever more pressing. Failure to address these concerns may hinder the Senate’s ability to function as a robust legislative body, ultimately affecting the government’s capacity to govern effectively in a diverse political landscape.
