Progressive Senate Group
Groupe progressiste du sénat
LeaderJane Cordy
Deputy LeaderPierre Dalphond
LiaisonWanda Thomas Bernard
Caucus ChairBrian Francis
FoundedNovember 14, 2019
Preceded bySenate Liberal Caucus
IdeologyProgressivism[1]
Non-partisan[2]
Technical group
Senate
12 / 105
Website
theprogressives.ca

The Progressive Senate Group (French: Groupe progressiste du sénat) is a parliamentary group in the Senate of Canada.[2][1] It was formed on November 14, 2019, out of the now-defunct Senate Liberal Caucus. It is currently lead by Jane Cordy.

History

Background

On January 29, 2014, as part of his proposal for a non-partisan Senate, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau expelled all the Liberal senators from the parliamentary caucus.[3] Despite being formally independent, the senators chose to sit together as a caucus, known as the Senate Liberal Caucus (SLC).[4]

After the Liberal Party formed the government following the 2015 federal election, Trudeau appointed only independents to the Senate. By 2019, floor-crossings and retirements had reduced the SLC to nine members. As a minimum of nine members is required for official party status, which entitles a group to access to funding and other supports and privileges, the Senate Liberals were expected to lose their recognition as an official Senate caucus on January 24, 2020, when the mandatory retirement of Senator Joseph A. Day would reduce the caucus to eight.[5]

Foundation

On November 14, 2019, Joseph Day announced that the SLC had been officially disbanded, with its current complement of nine members forming a new, non-partisan parliamentary group in the Progressive Senate Group, with the hope that the new group would be able to attract additional Senators. Day confirmed that, like Independent Senators Group and newly formed Canadian Senators Group, the PSG would not have whipped votes, and that the requirements of membership included supporting or holding "progressive" political values, support of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and supporting a new relationship with Indigenous peoples in Canada.[1] Day, previously leader of the SLC, was named the PSG's interim leader, and Terry Mercer, previously the SLC chair, was confirmed as the PSG's deputy leader.[6] Percy Downe was named as the interim whip/facilitator of the PSG.[7]

As a caucus

On November 18, Downe left to join the Canadian Senators Group. As Downe's departure dropped the PSG's standings below the minimum nine members required to be recognized as a caucus, the PSG lost its official status and became ineligible for the privileges associated with being an official parliamentary group, such as $410,000 in annual funding for staff and research as well as its right to be represented on Senate committees and procedural rights on the Senate floor.[8] Despite the loss of official recognition, Day said that the group would not disband, and that it hoped to recruit additional members.[8][9][10]

With Day's mandatory retirement forthcoming in January 2020, on December 12, 2019, Jane Cordy tweeted that her colleagues in the PSG had selected her as the new leader, ostensibly effective that same date.[11] Additionally, it was announced later that day that Mercer would be moving into the whip/caucus chair role, and that Dennis Dawson would become deputy leader.[12][13] Serge Joyal's retirement followed on February 24, 2020, further reducing the PSG to six members.

On May 8, 2020, Patricia Bovey joined the caucus. Bovey, a Trudeau appointee and former member of the ISG, was the first member of the PSG to not be a former Liberal senator.[14] A week later, on May 14, former Representative of the Government in the Senate Peter Harder joined the caucus. Harder, previously non-affiliated, explained that he was concerned about "majoritarianism" in the Senate and believed that, as part of the PSG, he could be "part of a bulwark against that."[15] On May 21, 2020, Pierre Dalphond joined the caucus, bringing their numbers to nine and thus restoring official party status to the group.[16]

On June 11, 2020, Bovey was named the PSG's liaison.[17]

Leadership

Former leadership positions

  • Percy Downe - Whip/Facilitator (interim) (November 14, 2019 – November 17, 2019)[8]
  • Joseph Day - Leader (interim) (November 14, 2019 – December 11, 2019)[21]
  • Terry Mercer - Deputy Leader (interim) (November 12 – December 11, 2019);[13] Caucus Chair (December 12, 2019 – November 30, 2020)[20]
  • Dennis Dawson - Deputy Leader (December 12, 2019 – May 31, 2021)[18]
  • Patricia Bovey - Liaison (June 11, 2020 – January 31, 2023)[17][19]

Membership

Name[22] Province (Division) Mandatory retirement date
Andrew Cardozo Ontario March 21, 2031
Jane Cordy Nova Scotia July 2, 2025
Pierre Dalphond Quebec (De Lorimier) May 1, 2029
Wanda Thomas Bernard Nova Scotia August 21, 2028
Peter Harder Ontario (Ottawa) August 25, 2027
Marty Klyne Saskatchewan March 6, 2032
Brian Francis Prince Edward Island September 28, 2032
Margaret Dawn Anderson Northwest Territories April 14, 2042
Clément Gignac Quebec (Kennebec) May 7, 2030
Amina Gerba Quebec (Rigaud) March 14, 2036
Diane Bellemare Quebec (Alma) October 13, 2024
Judy White Newfoundland and Labrador January 11, 2039

Former members

Name Province Left caucus Reason
Percy Downe Prince Edward Island November 18, 2019 Joined Canadian Senators Group[8]
Joseph A. Day New Brunswick (Saint John-Kennebecasis) January 24, 2020 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Serge Joyal Quebec (Kennebec) February 1, 2020 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Lillian Dyck Saskatchewan August 24, 2020 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Jim Munson Ontario (Ottawa / Rideau Canal) July 14, 2021 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Terry Mercer Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax) May 6, 2022 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Sandra Lovelace Nicholas New Brunswick January 31, 2023 Retired from the Senate[23]
Dennis Dawson Quebec (Lauzon) February 9, 2023 Retired from the Senate
Patricia Bovey Manitoba May 15, 2023 Mandatory retirement from the Senate
Michèle Audette Quebec (De Salaberry) N/A Became Non-affiliated

See also

Notes

    References

    1. 1 2 3 Tasker, John Paul (November 14, 2019). "There's another new faction in the Senate: the Progressive Senate Group". CBC News. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
    2. 1 2 "One-time Liberal senators rename themselves as Progressive Senate Group". CTV News. The Canadian Press. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
    3. ↑ Cudmore, James (January 29, 2014). "Justin Trudeau removes senators from Liberal caucus". CBC News. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
    4. ↑ Wherry, Aaron (January 31, 2014). "Bluffer's guide: What did Justin Trudeau do to the Senate?". Maclean's. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
    5. ↑ Jesse Snyder; Brian Platt (November 4, 2019). "New Senate bloc looking to protect 'regional interests' could hamper Trudeau's efforts to pass legislation". National Post. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
    6. ↑ "One-time Liberal senators rename themselves the Progressive Senate Group". National Post. The Canadian Press. November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
    7. ↑ "Senators List". Senate of Canada. April 11, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
    8. 1 2 3 4 Tasker, John Paul (November 18, 2019). "Two more senators defect to upstart group, one citing Scheer's leadership". CBC News. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
    9. ↑ "Shuffle in Senate as Dagenais quits Tories, Downe exits new Liberal group". Times Colonist. The Canadian Press. November 18, 2019. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
    10. ↑ Mazereeuw, Peter (November 29, 2019). "Updated: Progressive Senate Group folds, but leader hopes to claw back to official status". The Hill Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
    11. 1 2 Cordy, Jane [@SenatorCordy] (December 12, 2019). "Thank you to @SenDayNB for his strong leadership during a time of change in the Senate. I wish him well in retirement. I am honoured that my colleagues in the Progressive Senate Group have elected me to represent them as their leader" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    12. ↑ The Progressives [@Prog_Senate] (December 12, 2019). ".@SenTMM (Nova Scotia) is our Whip/Liaison and Caucus Chair. #SenCA #cdnpoli https://t.co/Lnn60EX1mD" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    13. 1 2 The Progressives [@Prog_Senate] (December 12, 2019). ".@dennis_dawson (Quebec) is our new Deputy Leader. #SenCA #cdnpoli https://t.co/JtcPrhfcFn" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    14. ↑ Tasker, John Paul (May 8, 2020). "Independent senator defects to the Progressives as senators spar over committee seats". CBC News. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
    15. ↑ Tasker, John Paul (May 14, 2020). "Former government point man Peter Harder joins the Progressive Senate Group". CBC News. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
    16. ↑ Tasker, John Paul. "Progressive Senate Group back from the dead as another Independent defects". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
    17. 1 2 Cordy, Jane [@SenatorCordy] (June 11, 2020). "I would like to congratulate @SenPatBovey on her election as the new Liaison for @Prog_Senate. She makes an excellent addition to our Leadership team, and her collaborative style will serve her well in her new role. #SenCA https://t.co/gD1kpcD9lx" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    18. 1 2 Cordy, Jane [@SenatorCordy] (June 2, 2021). "Pleased to have @DalphondPierre as part of the @prog_senate Leadership Team #SenCA #cdnpoli https://t.co/Gg0ScNNSxp" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    19. 1 2 Webmaster (January 16, 2023). "Progressive Senate Group announces new Liaison - The Progressive Senate Group". Retrieved February 1, 2023.
    20. 1 2 Cordy, Jane [@SenatorCordy] (December 1, 2020). "I would like to congratulate Senator @BrianFrancisPEI on his election as the new Caucus Chair for @Prog_Senate. He brings with him decades of experience in leadership and management and I welcome him to this new role. #SenCA https://t.co/AsWWUa5DwR" (Tweet). Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    21. ↑ The Progressives [@Prog_Senate] (December 12, 2019). "The Progressives announced a change of its leadership today. @SenatorCordy (Nova Scotia) is the group's new Leader. #SenCA #cdnpoli https://t.co/KkOmAzIYgf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 – via Twitter.
    22. ↑ "Meet the Senators". The Progressives. Progressive Senators Group. November 14, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
    23. ↑ Francis, Brian [@BrianFrancisPEI] (January 31, 2023). "Today is the official retirement of Senator Sandra Lovelace Nicholas from the @SenateCA after more than 17 years. It has been an honour to serve alongside her and I wish her all the best in the future. https://t.co/HeDme40GQg" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023 – via Twitter.
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