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, 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.Constitution Act, 1867, ss 23(3), (5), 31(5), 128, Fifth Schedule. 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.See e.g. https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/bill/S-228/first-reading.
Current NamePartyDivisionDate appointedAppointed byMandatory retirement Independent Senators Group Yukon Trudeau, J. Non-affiliated Nunavut Trudeau, J. Conservative Northwest Territories Trudeau, J.
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. NamePartyDivisionDate appointedAppointed byEnd of termProgressive Senate GroupNorthwest TerritoriesJ. TrudeauIncumbentLiberalNorthwest TerritoriesAdams, The Hon. WillieLiberalNorthwest TerritoriesDavis, The Hon. Thomas OsborneLiberalPrince Albert, NWTRoss, The Hon. James HamiltonLiberalRegina, NWTLougheed, The Hon. Sir James Alexander, P.C.ConservativeCalgary, NWTPerley, The Hon. William DellConservativeWolseley, NWTHardisty, The Hon. Richard CharlesConservativeEdmonton, NWT
Yukon The first senator for Yukon was appointed in 1975. NamePartyDivisionDate appointedAppointed byEnd of termIndependent Senators GroupYukonIncumbent ConservativeYukonChristensen, The Hon. Ione Jean, C.M.LiberalYukonLucier The Hon. PaulLiberalYukon
Nunavut The first senator for Nunavut was appointed in 1999. NamePartyDivisionDate appointedAppointed byEnd of term Non-affiliatedNunavutJ. TrudeauIncumbentPatterson, The Hon. Dennis GlenConservativeNunavutLiberalNunavutChrétien
See also Lists of members of the Senate of Canada Constitution Act, 1886 Constitution Act, 1975 (No 1) Constitution Act, 1975 (No 2) Constitution Act, 1999 (Nunavut)
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