Carney appoints top aide and Conservative MP to Senate
Senate appointments mark Carney’s shift with new voices and political balance See who was named and how the move could speed up legislation
Prime Minister Mark Carney has named four new senators in his first round of appointments, including longtime adviser Tom Pitfield and Conservative MP Richard Martel.
The appointments mark a shift away from Justin Trudeau’s approach, which focused on selecting mostly nonpartisan senators. Carney’s office said the goal is to restore balance to the upper chamber while still keeping some independent voices.
Pitfield, who worked on Carney’s 2025 campaign and later served in the Prime Minister’s Office, will sit as an Independent. Martel, who represented ChicoutimiLe Fjord in Quebec, is also expected to sit as an Independent after resigning from the House of Commons.
The prime minister also appointed New Brunswick cancer researcher Dr. Rodney Ouellette and Manitoba accountant Geeta Tucker. Officials said the new mix is intended to bring more political experience into the Senate and help move legislation through more efficiently.