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. 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.
Current
| Name | Party | Division | Date appointed | Appointed by | Mandatory retirement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Duncan | Independent Senators Group | Yukon | December 12, 2018 | Trudeau, J. | April 8, 2035 | |
| Vacant | Nunavut | |||||
| 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 | Liberal | Northwest Territories | April 5, 1977 | P.E. Trudeau | March 31, 1999 | |
| Thomas Osborne Davis | Liberal | Prince Albert, NWT | September 30, 1904 | Laurier | August 31, 1905 | |
| James Hamilton Ross | Liberal | Regina, NWT | September 30, 1904 | Laurier | August 31, 1905 | |
| James Alexander Lougheed | Conservative | Calgary, NWT | December 10, 1889 | Macdonald | August 31, 1905 | |
| William Dell Perley | Conservative | Wolseley, NWT | August 3, 1888 | Macdonald | August 31, 1905 | |
| Richard Hardisty | Conservative | Edmonton, NWT | February 23, 1888 | Macdonald | October 18, 1889 |
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 | Liberal | Yukon | September 2, 1999 | Chrétien | December 31, 2006 | |
| Paul Lucier | Liberal | Yukon | October 23, 1975 | P.E. Trudeau | July 23, 1999 |
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 | December 29, 2023 | |
| Willie Adams | Liberal | Nunavut | April 1, 1999 | Chrétien | June 22, 2009 |
See also
Notes
- ^ Appointed as senator for the NWT, Adams represented Nunavut after division until his retirement in 2009
- Appointed as senator for the NWT, Davis represented Prince Albert, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, January 23, 1917
- Appointed as senator for the NWT, Ross represented Regina, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, December 14, 1932
- Appointed as senator for the NWT, Lougheed represented Calgary, Alberta after the province's creation, until his death, November 22, 1925
- Appointed as senator for the NWT, Perley represented Wolseley, Saskatchewan after the province's creation, until his death, July 15, 1909
- ^ Died in office
- Retired
References
- Constitution Act, 1867, ss 23(3), (5), 31(5), 128, Fifth Schedule.
- See e.g. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-228/first-reading.
- ^ Adams, The Hon. Willie
- Davis, The Hon. Thomas Osborne
- Ross, The Hon. James Hamilton
- Lougheed, The Hon. Sir James Alexander, P.C.
- Perley, The Hon. William Dell
- Hardisty, The Hon. Richard Charles
- Christensen, The Hon. Ione Jean, C.M.
- Lucier The Hon. Paul
- Patterson, The Hon. Dennis Glen
| Lists of past and present members of the Senate of Canada | |
|---|---|
- Lists of senators by province or territory of Canada
- Canadian senators from Yukon
- Canadian senators from the Northwest Territories
- Canadian senators from Nunavut
- Lists of people from Nunavut
- Lists of people from Yukon
- Lists of people from the Northwest Territories
- Yukon politics-related lists
- Northwest Territories politics-related lists
- Nunavut politics-related lists