Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to make final Senate appointments to fill 10 vacancies before his retirement in March, according to Radio-Canada sources. This move would allow him to leave a lasting impact on Parliament, as these unelected senators can serve until the age of 75. The selection process for these future senators is already underway and is expected to be completed before Trudeau steps down in March. The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that the advisory board for Senate appointments is actively proposing candidates for the vacancies. Despite Trudeau’s previous praise for the independence of the senators he has appointed, critics, including Conservative Senator Claude Carignan, have raised concerns about the increasing partisanship in recent Senate appointments. The Conservative Party, currently leading in national polls, fears that Trudeau-appointed senators may hinder their agenda if they win the next election. Currently, there are 12 Conservative senators in the 105-seat chamber. Despite the concerns raised by critics, Trudeau has continued to appoint senators with partisan backgrounds, including former Liberal MPs and candidates. The future composition of the Senate, particularly in terms of opposition, remains uncertain as different groups of senators await the results of the next election to determine their roles within the Upper House. Para Carignan, sin embargo, sería inapropiado que los senadores nombrados por Trudeau formen un grupo de Oposición sin unirse a un partido político.
“Si afirmas ser independiente al mismo tiempo que quieres jugar el papel de la Oposición Oficial, eso sería un problema importante”, dijo el senador conservador.