OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his first batch of Senate appointees on Tuesday, filling four of 10 vacancies in the Red Chamber. The appointments include former Conservative MP Richard Martel and long-time Liberal strategist Thomas Pitfield, both from Quebec, alongside New Brunswick medical researcher Dr. Rodney Ouellette and Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba CEO Geeta Tucker.
Quebec gets half of new Senate seats
Quebec will claim two of the four seats. Martel, who served as the Conservative MP for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord since a December 2017 byelection, will resign his seat in the House of Commons to take the Senate appointment. Pitfield, a data strategist and founder of Canadian technology firm Data Sciences Inc., is a long-time Liberal party insider and former principal secretary to Carney in the PMO.
According to a PMO press release issued Tuesday, Pitfield advised Carney on “government priorities, including artificial intelligence, innovation, productivity, and Canada’s digital economy.” He also served as a senior policy advisor to Senate government leader Jack Austin and as digital adviser to former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaigns over the past decade.
Carney ends Trudeau-era non-partisanship rules
Pitfield’s appointment comes as Carney makes key changes to the Senate appointment process, doing away with rules concerning non-partisanship introduced during the Trudeau administration. “This decision recognises the valuable contributions made by Canadians who have chosen to serve in elected office or in other partisan roles, including knowledge of the governing and legislative processes, which will contribute to a stronger, more effective Senate,” the PMO said in a statement.
Martel held his seat through three federal elections and will resign from the Conservative caucus to accept the appointment. The PMO noted that both appointees bring expertise in technology, artificial intelligence, business, finance, health care, and parliamentary affairs.
Five more appointments expected by end of 2026
The PMO said five more appointments will be made before the end of 2026, chosen by a new Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which is expected to be struck in the coming days. The current appointments fill four of 10 vacancies in the Senate.
“These individuals bring a wealth of experience in the challenges and opportunities facing Canada today, including technology, artificial intelligence, business, finance, health care, as well as regulatory and parliamentary affairs,” the PMO said. “Their expertise will strengthen the Senate’s capacity to advance ambitious new legislation with scrutiny and rigour.”
