Canadian Senate divisions
Encyclopedia
Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate
divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada (as defined in subsection 52(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982
, consisting of the Canada Act 1982
(including the Constitution Act, 1982), all acts and orders referred to in the schedule (including the Constitution Act, 1867
, formerly the British North America Act), and any amendments to these documents. (While not within any of the original four Senate divisions, seats are also allocated to Newfoundland and Labrador
and the three territories.) Second, it refers to divisions within a province represented by senators from the Canadian Senate, also known as "senatorial designation", although under the Constitution only Quebec has official Senate divisions within the province. Senators from other provinces may simply "designate" a district they wish to symbolically represent within their province.
There are currently 105 seats in the Canadian Senate. Seats are divided among provinces and territories and can only change with constitutional amendment, or a constitutional provision that allows seats to change based on certain conditions. Beyond the constitutional allotment of senate seats per province, the seats are grouped into four regions of 24 seats. Provisions under section 26 of the Constitution Act exist to add up to two extra seats per region, with no more than 113 members allowed to sit in the Senate.
See also: Party standings and composition by seat in the Senate
.
|- bgcolor="#efefef" |
|colspan="15" align="center"|Evolution of Senate seats
|- bgcolor="#efefef" |
!align=left|Province (Joined Canada)
!align="center"|1867
!align="center"|1870
!align="center"|1871
!align="center"|1873
!align="center"|1874
!align="center"|1879
!align="center"|1882
!align="center"|1889
!align="center"|1903
!align="center"|1905
!align="center"|1915
!align="center"|1949
!align="center"|1975
!align="center"|1999
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Ontario
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Ontario regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Quebec
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Quebec regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2"|
New Brunswick
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The Maritimes regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|12
|12
|12
|11
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Nova Scotia
(1867)
|12
|12
|12
|11
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Prince Edward Island
(1873)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2" |
Alberta
(1905)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The Western Provinces regional division (1915)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|4
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |British Columbia
(1871)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|6
|6
|6
|6
|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Manitoba
(1870)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|2
|2
|2
|2
|2
|3
|4
|4
|4
|6
|6
|6
|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Saskatchewan
(1905)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|4
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2"|
Northwest Territories
(1870)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The territories (1879)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|2
|2
|2
|4
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Nunavut
(1999)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Yukon
(1898)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Newfoundland and Labrador
(1949)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Newfoundland and Labrador (1949)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-align="center"
|align="left"|Total
|72
|74
|77
|79
|77
|79
|80
|81
|83
|90
|96
|102
|104
|105
|}
Note:
Canadian Senate divisions have two meanings, the first refers to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators. The four regional divisions were created with 24 senators as an attempt to provide equality among the regions of Canada
. These regions are the Western Provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories are separate from the four regional divisions. The four divisions can be expanded when the need arises to have an extra two senators appointed to each regional division.
The second meaning refers to districts represented by senators from the Canadian Senate
. They are dissimilar to House of Commons
constituencies in that they are not based upon any population measure but are either fixed in the Constitution Act 1867, in the case of Quebec
, or are established upon the appointment of a senator and cease to exist when the senator leaves office.
In provinces other than Quebec, senators are appointed to represent the province as a whole and the royal proclamation makes no reference to divisions. Nonetheless, some senators are said to represent specific divisions which are sometimes announced at the time of appointment and sometimes determined later. These senate divisions have no specific geographic boundaries though their names often give a reference to a general geographic area. However a senator will sometimes create boundaries for their senate division even though it has no legal status. A senator can change his or her division in the same manner as party affiliation, simply by notifying the Clerk of the Senate. Some senators have created maps of their senate boundaries even though they hold no legal boundaries.
Changing senate division designations is relatively rare, only five of the current 75 non-Quebec senators have changed their divisions. Reasons for choosing a particular senate division designation vary widely, and there are no specific guidelines or precedents.
Although the origins and exact intentions of self-designated senate divisions are not clear, they likely originated during the October 10, 1864 Quebec City Conference
. At that conference, Quebec argued to have its 24 senate divisions prescribed in law. In Quebec, the Constitution mandates that the 24 divisions be the same as those that Canada East
held in the Legislative Council of Canada prior to Canadian confederation
. The purpose of Senate divisions within Quebec is to protect the interests of religious and linguistic minorities inside the province.
Each of the three territories (Yukon
, Northwest Territories
and Nunavut
) has only one senator who represents the entire territory.
.
This includes a rarely used provision to maintain a constituency office. Three senators currently have such offices. Two of the three have not designated themselves to a specific divisions, but to represent their province as a whole. While constituency offices are rare, all senators maintain an office on Parliament Hill
.
One feature of the Canadian Senate that sets itself apart from the House of Commons is the introduction of a Private bill
. The cost to introduce a private bill in the Senate is $200 compared to $500 for one in the House
. Prior to 1961, senators had a lot more "constituency work" because divorce was in the purview of Parliament
. There is no legal obligation for providing constituency services.
The Quebec regional division was created in 1867 at the time of confederation. Quebec has had 24 seats since 1867. The region covers the entire province. Quebec is unique in that it has 24 divisions set in the Constitution Act of 1867 and defined in the Consolidated Statutes of Canada 1859. Quebec senators must own property in their represented divisions.
The senate boundaries have not been changed since 1867 making large portions of Quebec unrepresented that were added from the Northwest Territories
. Quebec can have self-designated senators when the regional expansion clause is activated. Senators who are appointed in a Quebec Senate division must hold the $4,000 property requirement inside that division.
Note:
See List of Quebec senators
The Ontario regional division was created at the time of confederation in 1867. The region covers the entire province and has not had any changes in seat numbers since 1867.
Ontario has been the most populous province and region in Canada since the birth of the country in 1867. The province has expanded its boundaries twice, to cover land once part of the Northwest Territories
. Ontario also holds more seats in the Canadian House of Commons
than any other province.
The capital of Canada, Ottawa is located within Ontario.
Note:
See List of Ontario senators
The Western provinces regional division was created under the Constitution Act, 1915 to bring the total to four regional divisions. Six senators would represent each of the four western provinces Alberta
, British Columbia
, Manitoba
and Saskatchewan
for a total of 24 senators.
Prior to 1915 the provinces were not organized into a region, and had their own path of evolution. Manitoba gained seats on a set population expansion clause. Alberta and Saskatchewan gained seats from the Northwest Territories. British Columbia was given seats outlined in the Terms of Union.
Alberta has held popular elections for senators, although the Prime Minister is not obliged to nominate the winner of any such election to the Senate. Nonetheless, two winners of such elections have been nominated to the Senate: Senator Stan Waters was elected in the Alberta Senate nominee election, 1989
, and Senator Bert Brown
was also elected.
and New Brunswick
. It was expected that Prince Edward Island
would also join; however, it held out until 1873 as it sought equal representation by province rather than by region. At the Quebec Conference of 1864 the Prince Edward Island representatives believed the only safeguard for a small province would be an equal representation in the Senate. Prince Edward Island held out joining Canada until 1873 and ended up accepting the four senate seats.
On June 5, 2006 New Brunwick Premier Bernard Lord
announced his province's support for possible Senate elections to be held during the New Brunswick municipal election cycle, joining Alberta as the only province actively pursuing elected Senators. Among his proposal was a plan to divide New Brunswick into five Regions or Divisions and have each represented by two Senators. Another possibility of the proposal was to have Senators remain at large for the province.
confirmed the original terms of union and was given six seats in the Senate.
See List of Newfoundland and Labrador senators
, Yukon
and Nunavut
are currently represented by one senator each. The Northwest Territories joined confederation in 1870 but did not gain representation in the Senate until 1879. The territory was granted two more seats in 1903. After Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905 the Northwest Territories lost representation in the Senate until 1975 when it regained one seat under the Constitution Act 1975.
The Yukon was created out of the Northwest Territories in 1898 but did not get representation in the Senate until it was granted one seat under the Constitution Act 1975.
Nunavut was granted one seat under the Nunavut Act 1993 when the territory was created out of the Northwest Territories in 1999.
Note:
See List of Canadian territorial senators
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada (as defined in subsection 52(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982
Constitution Act, 1982
The Constitution Act, 1982 is a part of the Constitution of Canada. The Act was introduced as part of Canada's process of "patriating" the constitution, introducing several amendments to the British North America Act, 1867, and changing the latter's name in Canada to the Constitution Act, 1867...
, consisting of the Canada Act 1982
Canada Act 1982
The Canada Act 1982 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was passed at the request of the Canadian federal government to "patriate" Canada's constitution, ending the necessity for the country to request certain types of amendment to the Constitution of Canada to be made by the...
(including the Constitution Act, 1982), all acts and orders referred to in the schedule (including the Constitution Act, 1867
Constitution Act, 1867
The Constitution Act, 1867 , is a major part of Canada's Constitution. The Act created a federal dominion and defines much of the operation of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system...
, formerly the British North America Act), and any amendments to these documents. (While not within any of the original four Senate divisions, seats are also allocated to Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
and the three territories.) Second, it refers to divisions within a province represented by senators from the Canadian Senate, also known as "senatorial designation", although under the Constitution only Quebec has official Senate divisions within the province. Senators from other provinces may simply "designate" a district they wish to symbolically represent within their province.
Senate seats
Unlike the House of Commons, seats in the Canadian Senate are not adjusted by population (an exception to this was set out under the Manitoba Act, in which Manitoba's allotment increased until the province reached a target population). The Constitution also provides that a province cannot have fewer seats in the House of Commons than it has in the Senate.There are currently 105 seats in the Canadian Senate. Seats are divided among provinces and territories and can only change with constitutional amendment, or a constitutional provision that allows seats to change based on certain conditions. Beyond the constitutional allotment of senate seats per province, the seats are grouped into four regions of 24 seats. Provisions under section 26 of the Constitution Act exist to add up to two extra seats per region, with no more than 113 members allowed to sit in the Senate.
Party standings in the Canadian Senate
Members of the Canadian Senate can choose to sit as representatives of a political party. The current party standings in Canadian Senate are as follows:Notes:...
.
Evolution of Senate seats
{| border=1 cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"|- bgcolor="#efefef" |
|colspan="15" align="center"|Evolution of Senate seats
|- bgcolor="#efefef" |
!align=left|Province (Joined Canada)
!align="center"|1867
!align="center"|1870
!align="center"|1871
!align="center"|1873
!align="center"|1874
!align="center"|1879
!align="center"|1882
!align="center"|1889
!align="center"|1903
!align="center"|1905
!align="center"|1915
!align="center"|1949
!align="center"|1975
!align="center"|1999
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Ontario regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Quebec regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|24
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2"|
New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
(1867)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The Maritimes regional division (1867)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|12
|12
|12
|11
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
(1867)
|12
|12
|12
|11
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|10
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
(1873)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|4
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2" |
Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
(1905)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The Western Provinces regional division (1915)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|4
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(1871)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|3
|6
|6
|6
|6
|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
(1870)
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|2
|2
|2
|2
|2
|3
|4
|4
|4
|6
|6
|6
|6
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
(1905)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|4
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" rowspan="2"|
Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
(1870)
|colspan="14" align="center"|The territories (1879)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#99E6CC"
|bgcolor="#CCB34D"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|2
|2
|2
|4
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
(1999)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
(1898)
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#E60080"|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|1
|-
|rowspan="2" align="left" bgcolor="#f9f9f9" |
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
(1949)
|colspan="14" align="center"|Newfoundland and Labrador (1949)
|-align="center" bgcolor="#CCB34D"
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|bgcolor="#99E6CC"|6
|-align="center"
|align="left"|Total
|72
|74
|77
|79
|77
|79
|80
|81
|83
|90
|96
|102
|104
|105
|}
Note:
- 1870 The Manitoba Act, 1870 allows for two Senate seats with an expansion up to four adding seats at 50,000 and 75,000 population.
- 1871 The British Columbia terms of Union, 1871 provides three seats for British Columbia
- 1873 Under the Prince Edward Terms of Union 1873 Prince Edward Island was given four seats. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia lost two seats to decrease when the first two senators leave office.
- 1873 New Brunswick Senator William SteevesWilliam SteevesWilliam Henry Steeves was a merchant, lumberman, politician and Father of Canadian Confederation.-Life and career:...
dies, dropping New Brunswick to 11 seats - 1873 Nova Scotia Senator John LockeJohn Locke (Canadian politician)John Locke was a merchant and Senator from Nova Scotia, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Senate from October 23, 1867 to December 12, 1873 and was summoned to the Senate by Royal Proclamation....
dies, dropping Nova Scotia to 11 seats. - 1874 New Brunswick Senator Robert HazenRobert HazenRobert Hazen is a research scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory and Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, in the United States, received a B.S. and S.M. in geology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1971, and a...
dies, dropping New Brunswick to 10 seats - 1874 Nova Scotia Senator Ezra ChurchillEzra ChurchillEzra Churchill was a merchant, shipbuilder and a Canadian Senator for the province of Nova Scotia.He was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the son of Ezra Churchill and Elizabeth Trefry. In 1824, he married Ann Davidson. Churchill married Rachel Burgess after the death of his first wife...
dies, dropping Nova Scotia to 10 seats - 1879 Northwest Territories granted 2 seats.
- 1882 Manitoba reaches the population requirements for its third seat, it gained its fourth in 1889.
- 1903 Northwest Territories granted 2 additional seats.
- 1905 Saskatchewan and Alberta are created from the Northwest Territories with 4 seats each, under the Saskatchewan and Alberta Act's Northwest Territories loses 4 seats.
- 1915 the Western provinces division was created and the seats of the four western provinces were set to six each.
- 1949 Newfoundland & Labrador joined confederation, and was allotted six seats.
- 1975 The Yukon is granted its 1st seat, and the Northwest Territories re-gains 1 seat after 70 years.
- 1999 Nunavut was created from the Northwest Territories and allotted 1 seat.
Senate divisions
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. These regions are the Western Provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories are separate from the four regional divisions. The four divisions can be expanded when the need arises to have an extra two senators appointed to each regional division.
The second meaning refers to districts represented by senators from the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. They are dissimilar to House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
constituencies in that they are not based upon any population measure but are either fixed in the Constitution Act 1867, in the case of Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, or are established upon the appointment of a senator and cease to exist when the senator leaves office.
In provinces other than Quebec, senators are appointed to represent the province as a whole and the royal proclamation makes no reference to divisions. Nonetheless, some senators are said to represent specific divisions which are sometimes announced at the time of appointment and sometimes determined later. These senate divisions have no specific geographic boundaries though their names often give a reference to a general geographic area. However a senator will sometimes create boundaries for their senate division even though it has no legal status. A senator can change his or her division in the same manner as party affiliation, simply by notifying the Clerk of the Senate. Some senators have created maps of their senate boundaries even though they hold no legal boundaries.
Changing senate division designations is relatively rare, only five of the current 75 non-Quebec senators have changed their divisions. Reasons for choosing a particular senate division designation vary widely, and there are no specific guidelines or precedents.
Although the origins and exact intentions of self-designated senate divisions are not clear, they likely originated during the October 10, 1864 Quebec City Conference
Quebec Conference, 1864
The Quebec Conference was the second meeting held in 1864 to discuss Canadian Confederation.The 16 delegates from the Province of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island had agreed at the close of the Charlottetown Conference to meet again at Quebec City October 1864...
. At that conference, Quebec argued to have its 24 senate divisions prescribed in law. In Quebec, the Constitution mandates that the 24 divisions be the same as those that Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
held in the Legislative Council of Canada prior to Canadian confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
. The purpose of Senate divisions within Quebec is to protect the interests of religious and linguistic minorities inside the province.
Each of the three territories (Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
) has only one senator who represents the entire territory.
Senators representation of constituents
Senators have the same constitutional provisions to offer services as members of the House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
.
This includes a rarely used provision to maintain a constituency office. Three senators currently have such offices. Two of the three have not designated themselves to a specific divisions, but to represent their province as a whole. While constituency offices are rare, all senators maintain an office on Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill , colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildingsthe parliament buildings serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural...
.
One feature of the Canadian Senate that sets itself apart from the House of Commons is the introduction of a Private bill
Private bill
A private bill is a proposal for a law that would apply to a particular individual or group of individuals, or corporate entity. If enacted, it becomes a private Act . This is unlike public bills which apply to everyone within their jurisdiction...
. The cost to introduce a private bill in the Senate is $200 compared to $500 for one in the House
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. Prior to 1961, senators had a lot more "constituency work" because divorce was in the purview of Parliament
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
. There is no legal obligation for providing constituency services.
Quebec regional division
The senate boundaries have not been changed since 1867 making large portions of Quebec unrepresented that were added from the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. Quebec can have self-designated senators when the regional expansion clause is activated. Senators who are appointed in a Quebec Senate division must hold the $4,000 property requirement inside that division.
| Quebec permanent divisions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Division | # senators | Vacant |
| Alma | 8 | |
| Bedford | 8 | |
| De la Durantaye | 12 | |
| De la Vallière | 8 | |
| De Lanaudière | 8 | |
| De Lorimier | 9 | |
| De Salaberry | 10 | |
| Grandville | 8 | |
| Gulf | 11 | |
| Inkerman | 6 | |
| Kennebec | 10 | |
| La Salle | 13 | |
| Lauzon | 10 | |
| Mille Isles | 17 | |
| Montarville | 10 | |
| Repentigny | 8 | |
| Rigaud | 12 | |
| Rougemont | 11 | |
| Saurel | 9 | |
| Shawinegan | 8 | |
| Stadacona | 10/11* | |
| The Laurentides | 11 | |
| Victoria | 10 | |
| Wellington | 10 |
| Quebec self-designated divisions | |
|---|---|
| Division | # senators |
| Acadie | 1 |
| Quebec | 1 |
Note:
- *Narcisse-Fortunat BelleauNarcisse-Fortunat BelleauSir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, KCMG, QC was a Canadian politician, lawyer and businessman.He was born in Quebec City in 1808. He studied at the Petit Séminaire de Québec and went on to article in law, receiving his license to practice in 1832. In 1835, he married Marie-Reine-Josephte, the daughter...
declined appointment to the Senate and Stadacona Senate division. Ten senators have served out terms in Stadacona.
See List of Quebec senators
Ontario regional division
Ontario has been the most populous province and region in Canada since the birth of the country in 1867. The province has expanded its boundaries twice, to cover land once part of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. Ontario also holds more seats in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
than any other province.
The capital of Canada, Ottawa is located within Ontario.
| Ontario self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Ontario | 5 | 271 | 32 |
| Toronto | 3 | 15 | 18 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Rideau | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Cobourg | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ottawa-Vanier | 1 | 11 | 2 |
| St. Mary's | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bloor & Yonge/Toronto | 1 | - | 1 |
| Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds | 1 | - | 1 |
| Markham | 1 | - | 1 |
| Metro Toronto | 1 | - | 1 |
| Northern Ontario | 1 | - | 1 |
| Ottawa/Rideau Canal | 1 | - | 1 |
| Pakenham | 1 | - | 1 |
| Peel County | 12 | - | 1 |
| Toronto Centre-York | 13 | - | 1 |
| Toronto Centre | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| Brampton | 12 | - | 1 |
| Hamilton | - | 6 | 6 |
| London | - | 5 | 5 |
| Kingston | - | 4 | 4 |
| Peel | - | 4 | 4 |
| Brockville | - | 3 | 3 |
| Carleton | - | 3 | 3 |
| Lambton | - | 3 | 3 |
| North York | - | 3 | 3 |
| Bowmanville | - | 2 | 2 |
| Erie | - | 2 | 2 |
| Grey | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kenora-Rainy River | - | 2 | 2 |
| Leeds | - | 2 | 2 |
| Lincoln | - | 2 | 2 |
| Middlesex | - | 2 | 2 |
| Milton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Niagara | - | 2 | 2 |
| Nipissing | - | 2 | 2 |
| Ottawa East | - | 2 | 2 |
| Oxford | - | 2 | 2 |
| Russell | - | 2 | 2 |
| Saugeen | - | 2 | 2 |
| Sudbury | - | 2 | 2 |
| Toronto South | - | 2 | 2 |
| Welland | - | 2 | 2 |
| Windsor | - | 2 | 2 |
| York | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alexandria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Algoma | - | 1 | 1 |
| Barrie | - | 1 | 1 |
| Belleville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bothwell | - | 1 | 1 |
| Brantford | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burlington | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cataraqui | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cochrane | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dovercourt | - | 1 | 1 |
| East Toronto | - | 1 | 1 |
| East York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Eganville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Essex | - | 1 | 1 |
| Glen Tay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Gormley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Grafton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Grenville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Halton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hamburg | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hanover | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hastings | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hastings-Frontenac | - | 1 | 1 |
| Huron | - | 1 | 1 |
| Huron-Perth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kent | - | 1 | 1 |
| King's | - | 1 | 1 |
| Leeds and Grenville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lindsay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Midland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Monck | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nepean | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newcastle | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newmarket | - | 1 | 1 |
| Norfolk | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Wellington | - | 1 | 1 |
| Northcumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Parkdale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Parkhill | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pembroke | - | 1 | 1 |
| Perth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Perth North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Peterborough | - | 1 | 1 |
| Peterborough West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pickering | - | 1 | 1 |
| Port Hope | - | 1 | 1 |
| Port Severn | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prescott | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prince Edward | - | 1 | 1 |
| Quinté | - | 1 | 1 |
| Renfrew | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rockcliffe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rosedale | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Catharines | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Thomas | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sarnia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Scarborough Junction | - | 1 | 1 |
| Simcoe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Simcoe East | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Western Ontario | - | 1 | 1 |
| South York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Surprise Lake | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Parkdale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Spadina | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Rosedale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Taddle Creek | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Trinity | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Trent | - | 1 | 1 |
| Trenton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Waterloo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wellington South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wentworth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Windsor-Walkerville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Woodstock | - | 1 | 1 |
| York-Caboto | - | 1 | 1 |
| York Centre | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 227/230 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 2 | ||
Note:
- Senator Jean-Robert GauthierJean-Robert GauthierJean-Robert Gauthier, CM, O.Ont was a Canadian politician.A chiropractor by training, he entered politics as trustee on a local school board. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons to represent the riding of Ottawa East in the 1972 election as a Liberal Party Member of Parliament...
changed from Ontario to Ottawa-Vanier - Senator Lorna MilneLorna MilneLorna Ann Milne was a Canadian Senator from 1995 to 2009.Milne is the daughter of former Mayor of Toronto and Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Member of Provincial Parliament William Dennison and grand-daughter of Isaac Bainbridge, early labour organizer and pacifist...
changed from Brampton to Peel County - Senator Anne CoolsAnne CoolsAnne Clare Cools is a member of the Canadian Senate. Born in Barbados, with her appointment, she became the first Black Canadian to be appointed to Canada's upper house...
changed from Toronto Centre to Toronto Centre-York
See List of Ontario senators
Western Provinces regional division
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
for a total of 24 senators.
Prior to 1915 the provinces were not organized into a region, and had their own path of evolution. Manitoba gained seats on a set population expansion clause. Alberta and Saskatchewan gained seats from the Northwest Territories. British Columbia was given seats outlined in the Terms of Union.
Alberta has held popular elections for senators, although the Prime Minister is not obliged to nominate the winner of any such election to the Senate. Nonetheless, two winners of such elections have been nominated to the Senate: Senator Stan Waters was elected in the Alberta Senate nominee election, 1989
Alberta Senate nominee election, 1989
The 1st Alberta Senate nominee election was held on October 16, 1989 in Alberta, Canada. It was held in conjunction with Alberta municipal elections under the Local Authorities Election Act., and resulted in the first Canadian Senator appointed following a popular election.The vote was held along...
, and Senator Bert Brown
Bert Brown
For the English footballer Bert Brown, see Sailor BrownBert Brown is a Canadian Senator and retired farmer and development consultant currently residing in Balzac, Alberta.-Early life:...
was also elected.
| Alberta self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Edmonton | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Calgary | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Lethbridge | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Alberta | - | 7 | 7 |
| Banff | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alberta South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bon Accord | - | 1* | 1* |
| Edmonton West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lakeland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Medicine Hat | - | 1 | 1 |
| Palliser-Foothills | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Paul | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sturgeon | - | 1* | 1* |
| Total senators | 40/41* | ||
- 1 Senator Nicholas TaylorNicholas TaylorNicholas "Nick" William Taylor is a retired geologist, businessman and politician and former Canadian Senator from Alberta, Canada....
changed from Bon Accord to Sturgeon.
| British Columbia self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| British Columbia | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Vancouver | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Vancouver South | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Langley-Pemberton-Whistler | 1 | - | 1 |
| Okanagan-Similkameen | 1 | - | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 4 | 4 |
| New Westminster | - | 3 | 3 |
| Ashcroft | - | 2 | 2 |
| Cariboo | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kamloops | - | 2 | 2 |
| Barkerville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burrard | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kamloops-Cariboo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kootenay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kootenay East | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lion's Gate | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nanaimo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nanaimo-Malaspina | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Shore-Burnaby | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| University-Point Grey | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Burrard | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Centre | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Points Grey | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 41 | ||
| Saskatchewan self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Saskatchewan | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Regina | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| North Battleford | 1 | - | 1 |
| Prince Albert | - | 3 | 3 |
| Moose Jaw | - | 2 | 2 |
| Saskatoon | - | 2 | 2 |
| Assiniboia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Central Saskatchewan | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lumsden | - | 1 | 1 |
| Moosimin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ponteix | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prince Albert-Duck Lake | - | 1 | 1 |
| Regina-Qu'Appelle | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rosetown | - | 1 | 1 |
| Saskatchewan North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Tantallon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wolseley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 34 | ||
| Manitoba self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Manitoba | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Winnipeg | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Red River | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Winnipeg-Interlake | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. Boniface | - | 5 | 5 |
| Provencher | - | 3 | 3 |
| Marquette | - | 2 | 2 |
| Selkirk | - | 2 | 2 |
| Brandon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Churchill | - | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Garry | - | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Rouge | - | 1 | 1 |
| Killarney | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kildonan | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lisgar | - | 1 | 1 |
| Manitou | - | 1 | 1 |
| Portage la Prairie | - | 1 | 1 |
| River Heights | - | 1 | 1 |
| Souris | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Rose | - | 1 | 1 |
| Winnipeg North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Winnipeg South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 43 | ||
The Maritimes regional division
The Maritimes regional division was created in 1867. At the time of confederation the division contained only Nova ScotiaNova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. It was expected that Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
would also join; however, it held out until 1873 as it sought equal representation by province rather than by region. At the Quebec Conference of 1864 the Prince Edward Island representatives believed the only safeguard for a small province would be an equal representation in the Senate. Prince Edward Island held out joining Canada until 1873 and ended up accepting the four senate seats.
On June 5, 2006 New Brunwick Premier Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord
Bernard Lord, ONB, QC, is a Canadian politician and lobbyist. Lord served as the 30th Premier of New Brunswick from 1999 to 2006.-Early life:...
announced his province's support for possible Senate elections to be held during the New Brunswick municipal election cycle, joining Alberta as the only province actively pursuing elected Senators. Among his proposal was a plan to divide New Brunswick into five Regions or Divisions and have each represented by two Senators. Another possibility of the proposal was to have Senators remain at large for the province.
| New Brunswick self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| New Brunswick | 6 | 12 | 18 |
| Fredericton-York-Sunbury | 1 | - | 1 |
| Saint John-Kennebecasis | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. Louis de Kent | 1 | - | 1 |
| Tracadie | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. John | - | 9 | 9 |
| L'Acadie | - | 4 | 4 |
| Westmorland | - | 4 | 4 |
| Fredericton | - | 3 | 3 |
| Gloucester | - | 3 | 3 |
| Chatham | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kent | - | 2 | 2 |
| Moncton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Northumberland | - | 2 | 2 |
| Northumberland-Miramichi | - | 2 | 2 |
| Royal | - | 2 | 2 |
| Sunbury | - | 2 | 2 |
| Victoria | - | 2 | 2 |
| Victoria-Carleton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Baie-du-Vin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bathurst | - | 1 | 1 |
| Beauséjour | - | 1 | 1 |
| Charlotte | - | 1 | 1 |
| Charlotte County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dorchester | - | 1 | 1 |
| Edmundston | - | 1 | 1 |
| Grand-Sault | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kings and Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| L'Acadie-Acadia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Madawaska-Restigouche | - | 1 | 1 |
| Milltown | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nashwaak Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queen's | - | 1 | 1 |
| Restigouche-Gloucester | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richibucto | - | 1 | 1 |
| Riverview | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rockwood | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rothesay | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John-Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. George | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John City | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John (Lancaster) | - | 1 | 1 |
| Shediac | - | 1 | 1 |
| Southern New Brunswick | - | 1 | 1 |
| Village of Cap-Pelé | - | 1 | 1 |
| York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 90 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 0 | ||
| Nova Scotia self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Nova Scotia | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| Halifax | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| Northend Halifax | 1 | - | 1 |
| Stanhope St./Bluenose | 1 | - | 1 |
| South Shore | 1 | - | 1 |
| Amherst | - | 4 | 4 |
| Cape Breton | - | 4 | 4 |
| Pictou | - | 4 | 4 |
| Colchester | - | 3 | 3 |
| Lunenburg | - | 3 | 3 |
| Antigonish-Guysborough | - | 2 | 2 |
| Halifax-Dartmouth | - | 2 | 2 |
| King's | - | 2 | 2 |
| New Glasgow | - | 2 | 2 |
| North Sydney | - | 2 | 2 |
| Yarmouth | - | 2 | 2 |
| Antigonish | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bedford-Halifax | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cape Breton-The Sydneys | - | 1 | 1 |
| Clare | - | 1 | 1 |
| Colchester-Cumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Colchester-Hants | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dartmouth/Eastern Shore | - | 1 | 1 |
| Digby-Clare | - | 1 | 1 |
| Digby County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Halifax North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Highlands-Canso | - | 1 | 1 |
| Inverness-Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| Liverpool | - | 1 | 1 |
| Londonderry | - | 1 | 1 |
| Margaree Forks | - | 1 | 1 |
| Middleton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Milford-Hants | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queens-Lunenburg | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queens-Shelburne | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond West-Cape Breton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Shelburne | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Western Nova | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sydney | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sydney Mines | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Annapolis Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Highlands | - | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wallace | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 94 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 2 | ||
| Prince Edward Island self-designated divisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Prince Edward Island | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Charlottetown | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Cavendish | 1 | - | 1 |
| Queen's | - | 4 | 4 |
| Prince | - | 3 | 3 |
| Cardigan | - | 2 | 2 |
| King's | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alberton | - | 1 | 1 |
| East Prince | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hillsborough | - | 1 | 1 |
| Montague | - | 1 | 1 |
| Mount Stewart | - | 1 | 1 |
| Murray Harbour | - | 1 | 1 |
| Murray River | - | 1 | 1 |
| Park Corner | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Peter's, Kings County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Souris | - | 1 | 1 |
| Summerside | - | 1 | 1 |
| Tignish | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 34 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 0 | ||
Newfoundland and Labrador
During the Quebec Conference of 1864 it was determined that Newfoundland and Labrador was a distinct region and that the territory should exist as an exception outside of the equal regional divisions, if it should enter Canada. When Newfoundland and Labrador entered confederation in 1949 the Newfoundland ActNewfoundland Act
The Newfoundland Act was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that confirmed and gave effect to the Terms of Union agreed to between the then-separate Dominions of Canada and Newfoundland on March 23, 1949...
confirmed the original terms of union and was given six seats in the Senate.
| Newfoundland & Labrador | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| North West River, Labrador | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bonavista | - | 2 | 2 |
| St. John's | - | 2 | 2 |
| St. John's East | - | 2 | 2 |
| Avalon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burgeo-Lapoile | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bonavista-Twillingate | - | 1 | 1 |
| Harbour Main-Bell Island | - | 1 | 1 |
| Humber-St. George's-St. Barbe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lewisporte | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newfoundland | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Jacques | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John's West | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Grand Banks | - | 1 | 1 |
| Waterford-Trinity | - | 1 | 1 |
| West Coast | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total senators | 25 | ||
| Vacant | 1 | ||
See List of Newfoundland and Labrador senators
The territories
The Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
, Yukon
Yukon
Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
and Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
are currently represented by one senator each. The Northwest Territories joined confederation in 1870 but did not gain representation in the Senate until 1879. The territory was granted two more seats in 1903. After Alberta and Saskatchewan were created in 1905 the Northwest Territories lost representation in the Senate until 1975 when it regained one seat under the Constitution Act 1975.
The Yukon was created out of the Northwest Territories in 1898 but did not get representation in the Senate until it was granted one seat under the Constitution Act 1975.
Nunavut was granted one seat under the Nunavut Act 1993 when the territory was created out of the Northwest Territories in 1999.
| Canadian territories after 1975 | |
|---|---|
| Division | # senators |
| Northwest Territories | 2* |
| Nunavut | 1* |
| Yukon | 2 |
| Total senators | 4/5 |
| Northwest Territories prior to 1905 | |
|---|---|
| Division | # senators |
| Calgary | 1 |
| Edmonton | 1 |
| Prince Albert | 1 |
| Regina | 1 |
| Wolseley | 1 |
| Total senators | 5 |
Note:
* Senator Willie AdamsWillie AdamsWillie Adams is a Canadian Inuit politician who was a member of the Senate of Canada from 1977 to 2009.Adams was born in Fort Chimo, Quebec. He was appointed to the Senate by Governor General Jules Léger on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, on April 5, 1977, and is a member of the...
' designation changed from "Northwest Territories" to "Nunavut" when Nunavut Territory was created in 1999.
- All Northwest Territories senators became part of Alberta and Saskatchewan after 1905.
See List of Canadian territorial senators