Speaker of the Canadian Senate
Encyclopedia
The Speaker of the Senate of Canada is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure
and parliamentary privilege
, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often misunderstood as being equivalent to that in the House of Commons
, but it is not. The current speaker is the Honourable Noël Kinsella
, a Conservative
Senator representing the province of New Brunswick
.
, on behalf of the monarch, and on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
. By convention, however, this advice is generally expressed exclusively by the prime minister
.
The Speaker of the Senate takes precedence only after the queen, the governor general
, other members of the royal family, former governors general and their spouses, the prime minister
, former prime ministers, and the chief justice
on the order of precedence
and, therefore, is qualified to represent Canada at official state functions, both in Canada and abroad.
in the United Kingdom. In keeping with the role of the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the Senate was expected to be partisan; they would, at all times, have the right to leave the chair, to participate in debates, and to hold an original vote—unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons
, who has a vote only in the event of a tie.
The Speaker of the Senate was also similar to the Lord Chancellor, in being considered equal to other senators. Decisions of the chair were not binding on the Senate
unless the speaker's decision was also the pleasure of a majority of senators. Also similar to the practice of the Lords was that the speaker would not intervene unless another senator brought the matter to the attention of the speaker. Decisions from the chair remain subject to appeals from the Senate.
Canada has more recently departed with the traditions of the House of Lords
, notably since 1991, when new rules for the Senate were adopted. The new standing orders made it clear that the Speaker of the Senate could intervene without being called to do so by the Senate. The new guidelines move the Senate further from the self-governing practices of the House of Lords, and more toward the chair-governed customs of the House of Commons
.
The position was predecessed by the Speaker of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada.
, the speakership has generally begun to assert its right to intervene, where appropriate, without being prompted to do so. Therefore the speaker is, broadly speaking, responsible for the maintenance of order and decorum in the Senate
.
As a high-ranking individual on the order of precedence
, the Speaker of the Senate often receives heads of state and heads of government — this role is not merely ceremonial; the speaker is a real delegate and representative of Canada abroad. They are expected to represent Canada internationally, and sometimes visit other nations on behalf of the Government of Canada
.
While the speaker is an officer of the Senate
, they also remain a representative of the province from which they were appointed. Unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons
, the Speaker has the right to participate in debates on behalf of the citizens of their province or territory. The speaker has the right to cast an original vote, and to simultaneously preside over the voting process (rather than the speaker delivering a casting vote in the event of an equality, the question before the House is deemed to have been rejected).
Another significant difference between the two speakers is that the Speaker of the House of Commons
holds a management role within the administration of the House of Commons
as Chair of the Board of Internal Economy. The Speaker of the Senate holds no similar role, and the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration is chaired by another Senator.
In the absence of the Speaker in the Chamber, his duties are carried by the speaker pro tempore
, a senator appointed at the beginning of each session by the Senate. Should both chair officers be absent, any senator can be called upon to take the chair. Irrespective of who is in the chair, their decisions hold the same force as that of the speaker.
Parliamentary procedure
Parliamentary procedure is the body of rules, ethics, and customs governing meetings and other operations of clubs, organizations, legislative bodies, and other deliberative assemblies...
and parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often misunderstood as being equivalent to that in the 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...
, but it is not. The current speaker is the Honourable Noël Kinsella
Noël Kinsella
Noël A. Kinsella is a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate.-Education:Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University College in Dublin, Ireland. He received an L.Ph. and a Ph.D. degree from Pontifical University of St. Thomas...
, a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Senator representing the province of 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...
.
Appointment and precedence
The Speaker of the Senate is appointed by the governor generalGovernor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, on behalf of the monarch, and on the advice of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
. By convention, however, this advice is generally expressed exclusively by the prime minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
.
The Speaker of the Senate takes precedence only after the queen, the governor general
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
, other members of the royal family, former governors general and their spouses, the prime minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, former prime ministers, and the chief justice
Chief Justice of Canada
The Chief Justice of Canada, like the eight puisne Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, is appointed by the Governor-in-Council . All nine are chosen from either sitting judges or barristers who have at least ten years' standing at the bar of a province or territory...
on the order of precedence
Canadian order of precedence
The Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol....
and, therefore, is qualified to represent Canada at official state functions, both in Canada and abroad.
History of the speakership
The role of the Speaker in the Senate was originally based on that of the Lord ChancellorLord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
in the United Kingdom. In keeping with the role of the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the Senate was expected to be partisan; they would, at all times, have the right to leave the chair, to participate in debates, and to hold an original vote—unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
, who has a vote only in the event of a tie.
The Speaker of the Senate was also similar to the Lord Chancellor, in being considered equal to other senators. Decisions of the chair were not binding on the 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...
unless the speaker's decision was also the pleasure of a majority of senators. Also similar to the practice of the Lords was that the speaker would not intervene unless another senator brought the matter to the attention of the speaker. Decisions from the chair remain subject to appeals from the Senate.
Canada has more recently departed with the traditions of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, notably since 1991, when new rules for the Senate were adopted. The new standing orders made it clear that the Speaker of the Senate could intervene without being called to do so by the Senate. The new guidelines move the Senate further from the self-governing practices of the House of Lords, and more toward the chair-governed customs of the 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...
.
The position was predecessed by the Speaker of the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada.
Role of the speakership
The Speaker of the Senate is historically responsible for deciding on points of order, only once risen by another senator. However, with the 1991 amendments to the standing orders and guidelines that govern the Senate of CanadaCanadian 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...
, the speakership has generally begun to assert its right to intervene, where appropriate, without being prompted to do so. Therefore the speaker is, broadly speaking, responsible for the maintenance of order and decorum in the 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...
.
As a high-ranking individual on the order of precedence
Canadian order of precedence
The Canadian order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the Government of Canada. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol....
, the Speaker of the Senate often receives heads of state and heads of government — this role is not merely ceremonial; the speaker is a real delegate and representative of Canada abroad. They are expected to represent Canada internationally, and sometimes visit other nations on behalf of the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
.
While the speaker is an officer of the 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 also remain a representative of the province from which they were appointed. Unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
, the Speaker has the right to participate in debates on behalf of the citizens of their province or territory. The speaker has the right to cast an original vote, and to simultaneously preside over the voting process (rather than the speaker delivering a casting vote in the event of an equality, the question before the House is deemed to have been rejected).
Another significant difference between the two speakers is that the Speaker of the House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
holds a management role within the administration of the 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...
as Chair of the Board of Internal Economy. The Speaker of the Senate holds no similar role, and the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets, and Administration is chaired by another Senator.
In the absence of the Speaker in the Chamber, his duties are carried by the speaker pro tempore
Speaker pro tempore of the Canadian Senate
The Speaker pro tempore is an officer of the Canadian Senate who nominated by a selection committee to assume the role of Speaker pro tempore, or acting Speaker. The nomination is then confirmed through a vote in the Senate...
, a senator appointed at the beginning of each session by the Senate. Should both chair officers be absent, any senator can be called upon to take the chair. Irrespective of who is in the chair, their decisions hold the same force as that of the speaker.
List of Speakers of the Senate
| Speaker | Tenure | Party |
|---|---|---|
| The Hon. Joseph Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon, PC was a prominent Quebec politician in the middle years of the nineteenth-century... |
November 5, 1867 – May 16, 1869 | Independent Conservative |
| The Hon. John Ross John Ross (Canadian senator) John Ross was a Canadian lawyer, politician, and businessman.Born in County Antrim, Ireland, he was brought to Canada as an infant. Ross married twice, first to Margaret Crawford who died in 1847, secondly to Augusta Elizabeth Baldwin 4 February 1851, the daughter of Robert Baldwin... |
May 17, 1869 – May 26, 1869 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Joseph Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon, PC was a prominent Quebec politician in the middle years of the nineteenth-century... |
May 27, 1869 – June 2, 1872 | Independent Conservative |
| The Hon. Amos Botsford Amos Edwin Botsford Amos Edwin Botsford, PC was a Canadian farmer, judge, politician, and businessman.Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of William Botsford, and moved with his family to Westcock in 1808. He was a justice of the peace and a senior judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in Westmorland... |
June 3, 1872 – June 5, 1872 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Joseph Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon Joseph Édouard Cauchon, PC was a prominent Quebec politician in the middle years of the nineteenth-century... |
June 6, 1872 – June 30, 1872 | Independent Conservative |
| The Hon. Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau , born in Charlesbourg, near Quebec City, was the first Premier of the Canadian province of Quebec following the establishment of the Dominion of Canada in 1867. He led a Conservative Party government. He was also the Minister of Education and Provincial Secretary... |
February 21, 1872 – January 8, 1874 | Conservative |
| The Hon. David Christie David Christie David Christie, was a Canadian politician.Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, he came to Canada with his family in 1833.... |
January 9, 1874 – October 16, 1878 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Robert Wilmot | November 7, 1878 – February 10, 1880 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Sir David Macpherson David Lewis Macpherson Sir David Lewis Macpherson, was a Canadian businessman and political figure. He was a member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1896. He was knighted for his service to the country in 1884.... |
February 11, 1880 – February 15, 1880 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Amos Botsford Amos Edwin Botsford Amos Edwin Botsford, PC was a Canadian farmer, judge, politician, and businessman.Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, the son of William Botsford, and moved with his family to Westcock in 1808. He was a justice of the peace and a senior judge for the Inferior Court of Common Pleas in Westmorland... |
February 16, 1880 – April 18, 1880 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Sir David Macpherson David Lewis Macpherson Sir David Lewis Macpherson, was a Canadian businessman and political figure. He was a member of the Senate of Canada from 1867 to 1896. He was knighted for his service to the country in 1884.... |
April 19, 1880 – October 16, 1883 | Conservative |
| The Hon. William Miller William Miller (Canadian politician) William Miller, PC was a Canadian politician.Born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, the son of Charles Miller and Elizabeth Smith, he was educated at the Antigonish Academy, studied law and was called the bar of Nova Scotia in 1860... |
October 17, 1883 – April 3, 1887 | Liberal-Conservative |
| The Hon. Josiah Plumb Josiah Burr Plumb Josiah Burr Plumb was an American-born Canadian businessman and parliamentarian. Born in East Haven, Connecticut, Plumb immigrated to Canada in 1865 and settled near Niagara Falls, Ontario. Soon thereafter he became active in the Conservative Party of Canada... |
April 4, 1887 – March 12, 1888 | Conservative |
| The Hon. George Allan George William Allan George William Allan, was a Canadian politician. His mother Leah Tyrer, daughter of Dr. John Gamble, married Hon. William Allan, of York , U.C. Allan's father, William, was a pioneer who settled what was then the Township of York during John Graves Simcoe's term as Governor... |
March 17, 1888 – April 26, 1891 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Sir Alexandre Lacoste Alexandre Lacoste Sir Alexandre Lacoste, PC was a Canadian lawyer, professor, and politician.He was born in Boucherville, Quebec in 1842, the son of Louis Lacoste. From 1880 to 1923, he was a professor of law at the Université de Montréal.In 1882, he was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec... |
April 27, 1891 – September 13, 1891 | Conservative |
| The Hon. John Jones Ross John Jones Ross John Jones Ross, PC was born in Quebec City, Canada. He was the son of a Scots-Quebecer merchant, George McIntosh Ross, and his French-Canadian wife Sophie-Éloïse Gouin.-Province of Canada Assembly:... |
September 14, 1891 – July 12, 1896 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Sir Charles Pelletier Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier Sir Charles Alphonse Pantaléon Pelletier, KCMG, PC was a Canadian lawyer, militia officer, politician, publisher, judge, and the ninth Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.... |
July 13, 1896 – January 28, 1901 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Lawrence Power Lawrence Geoffrey Power Lawrence Geoffrey Power, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the son of Patrick Power and Ellen Gaul, he was educated at St. Mary's College, Carlow College, the Catholic University of Ireland and Harvard University and was admitted to the bar in 1866. In 1880, he... |
January 29, 1901 – January 8, 1905 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Raoul Dandurand Raoul Dandurand Raoul Dandurand, PC was a Canadian politician and longtime organizer in Quebec for the Liberal Party of Canada.... |
January 9, 1905 – January 13, 1909 | Liberal |
| The Hon. James Kerr James Kirkpatrick Kerr James Kirkpatrick Kerr, PC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and Senator. He served as Speaker of the Canadian Senate during the 11th Parliament from 14 January 1909 to 22 October 1911.... |
January 14, 1909 – October 22, 1911 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Auguste Landry | October 23, 1911 – June 2, 1916 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Joseph Bolduc Joseph Bolduc Joseph Bolduc, PC was Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1916 to 1922.He was born in Beauce County, Canada East in 1847, the son of Augustin Bolduc, and was educated at College Sainte-Marie and Université Laval. He graduated as a public notary in 1874 but also earned his living as a farmer and... |
June 3, 1916 – February 6, 1922 | Nationalist Conservative |
| The Hon. Hewitt Bostock Hewitt Bostock Hewitt Bostock, PC was a Canadian publisher, businessman and politician.He was born in Walton Heath, Epsom, England and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge graduating with honours in mathematics. Bostock then studied law and was called to the bar in 1888... |
February 7, 1922 – May 12, 1930 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Arthur Hardy Arthur Charles Hardy Arthur Charles Hardy, was a Canadian politician.Born in Brantford, Ontario, he ran unsuccessfully for the Canadian House of Commons in the Ontario riding of Leeds in the 1917 federal election. In 1922, he was called to the Canadian Senate representing the senatorial division of Leeds, Ontario... |
May 13, 1930 – September 2, 1930 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Pierre Blondin Pierre Édouard Blondin Pierre Édouard Blondin, PC was a Canadian politician.He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons representing the Quebec riding of Champlain in 1908 and 1911... |
September 3, 1930 – January 10, 1936 | Conservative |
| The Hon. Walter Foster Walter Edward Foster Walter Edward Foster, PC was a politician and businessman in New Brunswick, Canada.Foster was born in St. Martins, New Brunswick. He began work as a clerk with the Bank of New Brunswick at Saint John... |
January 11, 1936 – May 8, 1940 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Georges Parent Georges Parent Georges Parent was a Canadian lawyer, politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1940 until 1942.... |
May 9, 1940 – December 14, 1942 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Thomas Vien Thomas Vien Thomas Vien, PC, QC was a Canadian politician.Born in Lauzon, Quebec on 19 July 1881. He studied at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, then studied law at the Collège de Lévis. After, he studided law at the Université Laval. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1905... |
January 23, 1943 – August 23, 1945 | Liberal |
| The Hon. James King James Horace King James Horace King, PC was a physician and Canadian parliamentarian.Born in Chipman, New Brunswick, James King was the son of George Gerald King, a businessman and Canadian politician in his own right... |
August 24, 1945 – August 2, 1949 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Elie Beauregard Elie Beauregard Elie Beauregard, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician.Born in La Patrie, Quebec, he studied law and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1909. Active in the Liberal Party of Canada in Quebec, he was called to the Canadian Senate in 1940 representing the senatorial division of Rougemont, Quebec.... |
August 3, 1949 – October 13, 1953 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Wishart Robertson Wishart McLea Robertson Wishart McLea Robertson, PC was a politician in Nova Scotia, Canada.Robertson's paternal grandfather, Robert Robertson, was a member of Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1854 until 1878. His father, Thomas Robertson was also a member of the provincial legislature, as well as serving as a Liberal... |
October 14, 1953 – October 3, 1957 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Mark Drouin Mark Robert Drouin Mark Robert Drouin, PC was Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1957 until 1962.Drouin was born in Quebec City and educated at the Séminaire de Québec and Université Laval. He trained as a lawyer and was called to the Quebec bar in 1926 ultimately becoming senior partner in the firm of Drouin,... |
October 4, 1957 – September 23, 1962 | Progressive Conservative |
| The Hon. George White George Stanley White George Stanley White, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian and Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1962 to 1963.White was born in Madoc, Ontario... |
September 24, 1962 – April 26, 1963 | Progressive Conservative |
| The Hon. Maurice Bourget Maurice Bourget Maurice Bourget, PC was a Canadian politician who was Speaker of the Canadian Senate from April 27, 1963 to January 6, 1966.... |
April 27, 1963 – January 6, 1966 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Sydney Smith Sydney John Smith Sydney John Smith, PC , was a Canadian politician, farmer, rancher and businessman who served as Speaker of the Canadian Senate from 1966 to 1968.-Life and work:... |
January 7, 1966 – September 4, 1968 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Jean-Paul Deschatelets Jean-Paul Deschatelets Jean-Paul Deschatelets, PC was a Canadian parliamentarian.Born in Montreal, Quebec, he was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1953 as a Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Maisonneuve—Rosemont. He was re-elected in 1957, 1958, 1962, and 1963... |
September 5, 1968 – December 13, 1972 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Muriel Fergusson Muriel McQueen Fergusson Muriel McQueen Fergusson, was a Canadian Senator and the first woman Speaker of the Senate.Born in Shediac, New Brunswick, she graduated from Mount Allison University in 1921 with a B.A... |
December 14, 1972 – September 11, 1974 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Renaude Lapointe | September 12, 1974 – October 4, 1979 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Allister Grosart Allister Grosart Allister Grosart, PC was a Progressive Conservative politician, Senator, journalist and businessman in Canada.... |
October 5, 1979 – March 3, 1980 | Progressive Conservative |
| The Hon. Jean Marchand Jean Marchand Jean Marchand, PC, CC was a well known French Canadian public figure, trade unionist and politician in Quebec, Canada.... |
March 4, 1980 – December 15, 1983 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Maurice Riel Maurice Riel Maurice Riel, PC, QC was a lawyer and Canadian Senator.A distant relative of Louis Riel, Maurice Riel studied law and was admitted to the bar of Quebec in 1945. Establishing his own law firm in Montreal, Riel worked in international law with a number of clients in France... |
December 16, 1983 – November 1, 1984 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Guy Charbonneau Guy Charbonneau Guy Charbonneau, PC was the longest serving Speaker of the Canadian Senate, serving from 1984 to 1993. During his tenure, amendments to the Standing Orders of the Senate extended the powers of the Speaker.... |
November 2, 1984 – December 6, 1993 | Progressive Conservative |
| The Rt. Hon. Roméo LeBlanc Roméo LeBlanc Roméo-Adrien LeBlanc was a Canadian journalist, politician, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 25th since Canadian Confederation.... |
December 7, 1993 – November 21, 1994 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Gildas Molgat | November 22, 1994 – January 25, 2001 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Daniel Hays | January 26, 2001 – February 7, 2006 | Liberal |
| The Hon. Noël Kinsella Noël Kinsella Noël A. Kinsella is a Canadian politician and Speaker of the Canadian Senate.-Education:Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University College in Dublin, Ireland. He received an L.Ph. and a Ph.D. degree from Pontifical University of St. Thomas... |
February 8, 2006 – Present | Conservative |
External links
- Speakers of the Senate — Official site, maintained by the Government of CanadaGovernment of CanadaThe Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
.