The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, appointed Manuelle Oudar as an independent senator to fill a vacancy in the Senate for Quebec.
A dedicated lawyer and advocate for justice, Manuelle Oudar is a respected leader whose career in Quebec’s public service spans more than three decades. She is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec government’s Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité au travail and remains active in her community as a speaker and a mentor to young professionals and leaders starting their careers.
Quote
“Ms. Oudar is an accomplished administrator, and her experience in a variety of fields will bring an important perspective to the Senate. I am confident that she will continue to be a strong voice for Quebec and for Canadians from coast to coast to coast in her new role as senator.”
Quick Facts
- The Senate is the Upper House in Canada’s parliamentary democracy. It unites a diverse group of accomplished Canadians in service of their country. Created to counterbalance representation by population in the House of Commons, the Senate not only defends regional interests, it also creates a space for the voices of historically underrepresented groups like Indigenous Peoples, racialized communities, and women.
- In 2016, the selection process for senators was opened to all Canadians. Candidate submissions are reviewed by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which provides recommendations to the Prime Minister. The Board is guided by public, transparent, non-partisan, and merit-based criteria to identify highly qualified candidates.
- With today’s announcement, there have been 81 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. All of them were recommended by the Board.
- Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.
- Once appointed by the Governor General, new senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial and territorial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.