No Veterans, Farmers or Fishers in the Senate

Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe has written to Dr. Huguette Labelle, Chair of the Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, regarding their announcement that until April 3rd, they will be accepting applications and nominations for Senate vacancies across Canada

These upcoming appointments provide an opportunity for the Senate to better reflect the diversity of Canada, and to fill existing gaps in representation, such as the absence of farmers, fishers and veterans in the Senate of Canada.

“With twelve Senate vacancies from nine provinces and territories across Canada there exists an opportunity to fill these gaps in representation”

 

These important voices continue to be missing from our debates in the Senate. Among sitting senators, there are 18 lawyers, 13 professors, over a dozen businessmen and women, journalists, chartered accountants and nurses — yet no farmers, fishers or veterans. Even with the newly appointed Ontario Senator who brings to the Chamber a history of working on agricultural issues, one member out of 105 is simply not enough for the agriculture and agri-food sector.

The agricultural and agri-food sector represents over $111 billion of GDP, accounting for 6.7% of Canada’s total and 12.5% of Canadian jobs. For its part, the fisheries sector is responsible for some $3 billion in economic activity, directly employing some 72,000 people.

Veterans are needed to help address concerns about treatment, assessments and benefits for former Canadian Armed Forces members. Moreover, the majority of problems regarding the timely delivery of veterans’ assistance programs appears to disproportionally affect retired military members below the rank of Colonel. Those who achieve the rank of Colonel and higher seem to be generally well taken care of by the present system, and are rarely identified as needing additional support. An appointment from the former group of enlisted men and women could help address the many problems and complaints surrounding veterans’ services that we have all read about in the media.

Past progress in making the membership of the Senate more diverse is exemplified by the fact that 45% of senators are women, compared to only 27% of members of the House of Commons. However other forms of diversity need to be addressed as well, namely representatives of primary industry such as farmers and fishers, and those who wore the uniform of the Canadian Forces in the service of their country.

With twelve Senate vacancies from nine provinces and territories across Canada, and five more scheduled this year, there exists an opportunity to fill these gaps in representation. It is Senator Downe’s hope that the Advisory Board for Senate Appointments will keep this in mind during the upcoming cycle of Senate appointments, and help bring about an Upper Chamber that better reflects the diversity of Canada.