List of women appointed to the Canadian Senate

Last updated

Women have served in the Canadian Senate since Senator Cairine Wilson was first appointed to the Senate by the government of Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1930. [1] Since then, women have represented every province and territory in the Senate except for Nunavut.

Contents

Women won the right to be appointed to the Senate in 1929 due to the Famous Five Persons Case (Edwards v Canada (AG)).

Appointed before 1993

SenatorProvinceTook officeLeft officePartyAppointed on the advice ofNote
Cairine Wilson Ontario February 20, 1930March 30, 1962 Liberal William Lyon Mackenzie King First woman appointed senator
Iva Campbell Fallis Ontario July 20, 1935March 7, 1956 Conservative R. B. Bennett [2]
Marianna Beauchamp Jodoin Quebec May 19, 1953June 1, 1966 Liberal Louis St. Laurent [3]
Muriel McQueen Ferguson New Brunswick May 19, 1953May 23, 1975 Liberal Louis St. Laurent [3]
Nancy Hodges British Columbia November 5, 1953June 12, 1965 Liberal Louis St. Laurent [3]
Florence Elsie Inman Prince Edward Island July 28, 1955May 31, 1986 Liberal Louis St. Laurent [3]
Olive Lilian Irvine Manitoba January 14, 1960November 1, 1969 Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker [3]
Josie Alice Quart Quebec November 16, 1960April 17, 1980 Progressive Conservative John Diefenbaker [3]
Mary Elizabeth Kinnear Ontario April 6, 1967April 3, 1973 Liberal Lester B. Pearson [3]
Thérèse Casgrain Quebec October 7, 1970July 10, 1971 Non-affiliated Pierre Trudeau [3]
Nancy Bell British Columbia October 7, 1970November 29, 1989 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Renaude Lapointe Quebec November 10, 1971January 3, 1987 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Margaret Norrie Nova Scotia April 27, 1972October 16, 1980 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Joan Neiman Ontario September 1, 1972September 9, 1995 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Florence Bird Ontario March 23, 1978January 15, 1983 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Margaret Jean Anderson New Brunswick March 23, 1978August 7, 1990 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Dalia Wood Quebec March 26, 1979January 31, 1999 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Yvette Boucher Rousseau Quebec March 27, 1979March 17, 1988Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Martha Bielish Alberta September 27, 1979September 26, 1990 Progressive Conservative Joe Clark [3]
Lorna Marsden Ontario January 24, 1984August 31, 1992 Liberal Pierre Trudeau [3]
Anne Cools Ontario January 13, 1984August 12, 2018 Liberal Pierre Trudeau First black member, and longest serving member of the Senate [3] [4]
Joyce Fairbairn Alberta June 29, 1984January 18, 2013 Liberal Pierre Trudeau First woman to serve as Leader of the Government of the Senate [3] [5]
Brenda Robertson New Brunswick December 21, 1984May 23, 2004 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Eileen Rossiter Prince Edward Island November 17, 1986July 14, 2004 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Mira Spivak Manitoba November 17, 1986July 12, 2009 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Ethel Cochrane Newfoundland and Labrador November 17, 1986September 23, 2012 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Solange Chaput-Rolland Quebec September 26, 1988May 14, 1994 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Nancy Teed New Brunswick August 30, 1990January 29, 1993 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Pat Carney British Columbia August 30, 1990January 31, 2008 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Mabel DeWare New Brunswick September 23, 1990August 9, 2001 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Janis Johnson Manitoba September 27, 1990September 27, 2016 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]
Thérèse Lavoie-Roux Quebec September 27, 1990March 12, 2001 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [3]

Since 1993

SenatorProvinceTook officeLeft officePartyAppointed on the advice ofNote
Terry Stratton Manitoba March 25, 1993March 16, 2013 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [6]
Erminie Cohen New Brunswick June 4, 1993July 23, 2001 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [6]
Marjory LeBreton Ontario June 18, 1993July 4, 2015 Progressive Conservative Brian Mulroney [6]
Lise Bacon Quebec September 15, 1994August 25, 2009 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Sharon Carstairs Manitoba September 15, 1994October 17, 2011 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Rose-Marie Losier-Cool New Brunswick March 21, 1995June 18, 2012 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Céline Hervieux-Payette Quebec March 21, 1995April 22, 2016 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Doris Margaret Anderson Prince Edward Island September 21, 1995July 5, 1997 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Lorna Milne Ontario September 21, 1995December 13, 2009 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Marie Poulin Ontario September 21, 1995April 17, 2015 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Shirley Maheu Quebec February 1, 1996February 1, 2006 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Jean Forest Alberta May 16, 1996August 28, 1998 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Eugene Whelan Ontario August 9, 1996July 11, 1999 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Lucie Pépin Quebec April 8, 1997September 7, 2011 Liberal Jean Chrétien [7]
Peggy Butts Nova Scotia September 22, 1997August 15, 1999 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Marisa Ferretti Barth Quebec September 22, 1997April 28, 2006 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Catherine Callbeck Prince Edward Island September 22, 1997July 25, 2014 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Thelma Chalifoux Alberta August 15, 1999February 8, 2004 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Joan Cook Newfoundland and Labrador March 6, 1998October 6, 2009 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Marian Maloney Ontario June 11, 1998August 16, 1999 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Lois Miriam Wilson Ontario June 11, 1998April 8, 2002 Non-affiliated Jean Chrétien [8]
Vivienne Poy Ontario September 17, 1998September 17, 2012 Liberal Jean Chrétien First Senator of Asian ancestry [8] [9]
Joan Fraser Quebec September 17, 1998February 2, 2018 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Sheila Finestone Quebec August 11, 1999January 28, 2002 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Isobel Finnerty Ontario September 2, 1999July 15, 2005 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Ione Christensen Yukon September 2, 1999December 31, 2006 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Betty Kennedy Ontario June 20, 2000January 4, 2001 Liberal Jean Chrétien [8]
Libbe Hubley Prince Edward Island March 8, 2001September 8, 2017 Liberal Jean Chrétien [10]
Mobina Jaffer British Columbia June 13, 2001August 20, 2024 Independent Senators Group Jean ChrétienFirst South Asian woman appointed to the Senate [11] [12]
Viola Léger New Brunswick June 13, 2001June 29, 2005 Liberal Jean Chrétien [10]
Maria Chaput Manitoba December 12, 2002March 1, 2016 Liberal Jean Chrétien [10]
Pana Merchant Saskatchewan December 12, 2002March 31, 2017 Liberal Jean Chrétien [10]
Madeleine Plamondon Quebec September 9, 2003September 21, 2006 Non-affiliated Jean Chrétien [10]
Marilyn Trenholme Counsell New Brunswick September 9, 2003October 22, 2008 Liberal Jean Chrétien [10]
Terry Mercer Nova Scotia November 7, 2003May 6, 2022 Progressive Senate Group Jean Chrétien [10]
Sandra Lovelace Nicholas New Brunswick September 21, 2005January 31, 2023 Progressive Senate Group Paul Martin [10]
Nancy Ruth Ontario March 24, 2005January 6, 2017 Progressive Conservative Paul Martin [3]
Claudette Tardif Alberta March 24, 2005February 2, 2018 Liberal Paul Martin [3]
Lillian Dyck Saskatchewan March 24, 2005August 24, 2020 New Democrat Paul Martin [3]
Elaine McCoy Alberta March 24, 2005December 29, 2020 Progressive Conservative Paul Martin [3]
Andrée Champagne Quebec August 2, 2005July 17, 2014 Conservative Paul Martin [3]
Nancy Greene Raine British Columbia January 2, 2009May 11, 2018 Conservative Stephen Harper [3]
Nicole Eaton Ontario January 2, 2009January 21, 2020 Conservative Stephen Harper [3]
Suzanne Fortin-Duplessis Quebec January 14, 2009June 30, 2015 Conservative Stephen Harper [3]
Linda Frum Ontario August 27, 2009August 27, 2021 Conservative Stephen Harper [3]
Carolyn Stewart Olsen New Brunswick August 27, 2009July 27, 2021 Conservative Stephen Harper [3]
Diane Griffin Prince Edward Island November 10, 2016March 18, 2022 Canadian Senators Group Justin Trudeau [3]
Patricia Bovey Manitoba November 10, 2016May 15, 2023 Progressive Senate Group Justin Trudeau [3]
Josée Forest-Niesing Ontario October 11, 2018November 20, 2021 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [3]

Current

Forty-eight women are currently (July 6, 2023) serving in the Senate.

SenatorProvinceTook officeMandatory retirement datePartyAppointed on the advice ofNote
Jane Cordy Nova Scotia June 9, 2000July 2, 2025 Progressive Senate Group Jean Chrétien [11]
Pierrette Ringuette New Brunswick December 12, 2002December 31, 2030 Independent Senators Group Jean Chrétien [11]
Pamela Wallin Saskatchewan January 2, 2009January 2, 2009 Canadian Senators Group Stephen Harper [11]
Yonah Martin British Columbia January 2, 2009April 11, 2040 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Judith Seidman Quebec August 27, 2009September 1, 2025 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Elizabeth Marshall Newfoundland and Labrador January 29, 2010September 7, 2026 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Rose-May Poirier New Brunswick February 28, 2010March 2, 2029 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Salma Ataullahjan Ontario July 9, 2010April 29, 2027 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Josée Verner Quebec June 13, 2011December 30, 2034 Canadian Senators Group Stephen Harper [11]
Denise Batters Saskatchewan January 25, 2013June 18, 2045 Conservative Stephen Harper [11]
Diane Bellemare Quebec September 6, 2012October 13, 2024 Progressive Senate Group Stephen Harper [11]
Ratna Omidvar Ontario April 1, 2016November 5, 2024 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Frances Lankin Ontario April 1, 2016April 16, 2029 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Chantal Petitclerc Quebec April 1, 2016December 15, 2044 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Nancy Hartling New Brunswick November 10, 2016February 1, 2025 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Marilou McPhedran Manitoba November 10, 2016July 22, 2026 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Wanda Thomas Bernard Nova Scotia November 10, 2016August 1, 2028 Progressive Senate Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Kim Pate Ontario November 10, 2016November 10, 2034 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
René Cormier New Brunswick November 10, 2016April 27, 2031 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Gwen Boniface Ontario November 10, 2016August 5, 2030 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Lucie Moncion Ontario November 10, 2016October 25, 2033 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Renée Dupuis Quebec November 10, 2016April 8, 2035 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Marie-Françoise Mégie Quebec November 25, 2016September 21, 2025 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Rosa Galvez Quebec December 6, 2016June 21, 2036 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Mary Jane McCallum Manitoba December 4, 2017May 1, 2027 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Mary Coyle Nova Scotia December 4, 2017November 5, 2029 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Yvonne Boyer Ontario March 15, 2018October 25, 2028 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Donna Dasko Ontario June 6, 2018August 19, 2026 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Julie Miville-Dechêne Quebec June 20, 2018July 10, 2034 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Bev Busson British Columbia September 24, 2018August 23, 2026 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Paula Simons Alberta October 3, 2018September 7, 2039 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Patti LaBoucane-Benson Alberta October 3, 2018February 20, 2044 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Rosemary Moodie Ontario December 12, 2018November 24, 2031 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Pat Duncan Yukon December 12, 2018April 8, 2035 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Margaret Dawn Anderson Northwest Territories December 12, 2018April 14, 2042 Progressive Senate Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Bernadette Clement Ontario June 22, 2021May 17, 2040 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Karen Sorensen Alberta July 29, 2021May 20, 2034 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Amina Gerba Quebec July 29, 2021March 14, 2036 Progressive Senate Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Michèle Audette Quebec July 29, 2021July 20, 2046 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Gigi Osler Manitoba September 26, 2022September 9, 2043 Canadian Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Margo Lainne Greenwood British Columbia November 10, 2022September 2, 2028 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Sharon Burey Ontario November 21, 2022December 4, 2032 Canadian Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Rebecca Patterson Ontario November 21, 2022June 15, 2040 Canadian Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Jane MacAdam Prince Edward Island May 3, 2023March 1, 2032 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Iris Petten Newfoundland and Labrador May 3, 2023February 5, 2034 Independent Senators Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Judy White Newfoundland and Labrador July 6, 2023January 11, 2039 Progressive Senate Group Justin Trudeau [11]
Independent Senators Group New Brunswick October 31, 2023January 8, 2030 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Krista Ann Ross New Brunswick October 31, 2023September 30, 2042 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Marnie McBean Ontario December 20, 2023January 28, 2043 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]
Paulette Senior Ontario December 20, 2023December 4, 2036 Non-affiliated Justin Trudeau [11]

See qlso

List of women elected to Canadian Parliament

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References

  1. ↑ "Canada's First Woman Senator". The Historical Society of Ottawa. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Profile". Library of Parliament. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 "Parliamentarians". Library of Parliament. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Hon. Anne Cools". TorontoDV. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Debates - Issue 125 - December 4, 2012". Senate of Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 "Senators". October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Senators". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Senators". Archived from the original on October 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Double Vision". University of Toronto Magazine. March 14, 2004. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Party Standings in the Senate". Archived from the original on October 7, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 "Senators". Senate of Canada. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Mobina Jaffer". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
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