Premier’s Statement on the Independent Advisory Board on Senate Appointments
Premier Kathleen Wynne
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne released the following statement on the selection of Ontario’s representatives to the Independent Advisory Board on Senate Appointments:
“Today the federal government announced the members of its new Independent Advisory Board on Senate Appointments. I want to congratulate Dr. Dawn Lavell-Harvard and Murray Segal on being selected to represent our province as Ontario’s ad-hoc members of the Independent Advisory Board. I also want to thank Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef for the opportunity to provide a shortlist of names from which these two candidates were selected.
As members of the Board, Dr. Lavell-Harvard and Mr. Segal will work with the permanent members of the Board to provide the Prime Minister with a list of candidates from Ontario who would make a significant contribution to the work of the Senate. With seven of Ontario’s Senate seats currently vacant, these appointments are of great importance to our government and to the people of Ontario.
Dr. Lavell-Harvard is a member of the Wikwemikong First Nation, the first Aboriginal Trudeau Scholar, and president of the Native Women’s Association of Canada. A tireless champion of the rights of Aboriginal women and families, Dr. Lavell-Harvard also served as President of the Ontario Native Women’s Association for 11 years.
Murray Segal has had a long and distinguished career of public service. His former roles include Chief Prosecutor for the Province of Ontario, Deputy Attorney General of Ontario and Deputy Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.
I also want to congratulate Huguette Labelle on her federal appointment to the position of Chair of the Independent Advisory Board.
Dr. Labelle’s distinguished career in the public service includes 19 years as deputy head of many government departments. She has served as Under Secretary of State, Deputy Minister of Transport Canada, Chair of the Public Service Commission and President of the Canadian International Development Agency. She is a former chancellor of the University of Ottawa, a member of the Order of Ontario and a companion of the Order of Canada.
Our government believes that the Senate plays a valuable role as a chamber of sober second thought. With today’s announcement, we are confident that the best interests of Ontario will be reflected in all future Senate appointments.”
