This is a list of past and present members of the Senate of Canada representing the territories of Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The territories are currently represented by one senator each.

Parliament has the power to provide for the representation of territories in the Senate by virtue of section 1 of the Constitution Act, 1886 and section 44 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The Northwest Territories was granted two Senate seats in 1888 and doubled to four seats in 1903. After Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905, the territories would not have Senate representation until the enactment of the Constitution Act, 1975 (No 2), which gave one seat to the Northwest Territories and one seat to the Yukon. Nunavut was granted one seat upon its creation in 1999 by virtue of the Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut).

The Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut) arguably impliedly repeals the Constitution Act, 1975 (No 2) since, despite its short title the Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut) provides for the representation of the three territories, not just that of Nunavut.

The Constitution Act, 1975 (No 2) and now the Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut) adapt the qualifications under section 23 of the Constitution Act, 1867 for those representing the territories so that they could fulfill their real property requirement and be resident in their territory.[1] Nunavut Senator Dennis Patterson has proposed the repeal of the real property qualification with the aim of increasing the number of residents of Nunavut qualified to be summoned to the Senate by the Governor General.[2]

Current

Name Party Division Date appointed Appointed by Mandatory retirement
  Pat Duncan Independent Senators Group Yukon December 12, 2018 Trudeau, J. April 8, 2035
  Dennis Patterson Canadian Senators Group Nunavut August 27, 2009 Harper December 30, 2023
  Margaret Dawn Anderson Progressive Senate Group Northwest Territories December 12, 2018 Trudeau, J. April 14, 2042

Historic

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories had representation in the Senate from 1888 to 1905. After the creation of Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, however, the territories were not represented in the Senate until 1975.

Name Party Division Date appointed Appointed by End of term
  Margaret Dawn Anderson Independent Senators Group Northwest Territories December 12, 2018 J. Trudeau Incumbent
  Nick Sibbeston Liberal Northwest Territories September 2, 1999 Chrétien November 21, 2017
  Willie Adams[3] Liberal Northwest Territories[a] April 5, 1977 P.E. Trudeau March 31, 1999
  Thomas Osborne Davis[4] Liberal Prince Albert, NWT[b] September 30, 1904 Laurier August 31, 1905
  James Hamilton Ross[5] Liberal Regina, NWT[c] September 30, 1904 Laurier August 31, 1905
  James Alexander Lougheed[6] Conservative Calgary, NWT[d] December 10, 1889 Macdonald August 31, 1905
  William Dell Perley[7] Conservative Wolseley, NWT[e] August 3, 1888 Macdonald August 31, 1905
  Richard Hardisty[8] Conservative Edmonton, NWT February 23, 1888 Macdonald October 18, 1889[f]

Yukon

The first senator for Yukon was appointed in 1975.

Name Party Division Date appointed Appointed by End of term
  Pat Duncan Independent Senators Group Yukon December 12, 2018 J. Trudeau Incumbent
  Daniel Lang Conservative Yukon January 2, 2009 Harper August 15, 2017
  Ione Christensen[9] Liberal Yukon September 2, 1999 Chrétien December 31, 2006[g]
  Paul Lucier[10] Liberal Yukon October 23, 1975 P.E. Trudeau July 23, 1999[f]

Nunavut

The first senator for Nunavut was appointed in 1999.

Name Party Division Date appointed Appointed by End of term
  Dennis Patterson Conservative Nunavut August 27, 2009 Harper Incumbent
  Willie Adams[3] Liberal Nunavut[a] April 1, 1999 Chrétien June 22, 2009

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Appointed as senator for the NWT, Adams represented Nunavut after division until his retirement in 2009
  2. ^ Appointed as senator for the NWT, Davis represented Prince Albert, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, January 23, 1917
  3. ^ Appointed as senator for the NWT, Ross represented Regina, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, December 14, 1932
  4. ^ Appointed as senator for the NWT, Lougheed represented Calgary, Alberta after the province's creation, until his death, November 22, 1925
  5. ^ Appointed as senator for the NWT, Perley represented Wolseley, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, July 15, 1909
  6. ^ a b Died in office
  7. ^ Retired

References

  1. ^ Constitution Act, 1867, ss 23(3), (5), 31(5), 128, Fifth Schedule.
  2. ^ See e.g. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-228/first-reading.
  3. ^ a b Adams, The Hon. Willie
  4. ^ Davis, The Hon. Thomas Osborne
  5. ^ Ross, The Hon. James Hamilton
  6. ^ Lougheed, The Hon. Sir James Alexander, P.C.
  7. ^ Perley, The Hon. William Dell
  8. ^ Hardisty, The Hon. Richard Charles
  9. ^ Christensen, The Hon. Ione Jean, C.M.
  10. ^ Lucier The Hon. Paul
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