The Canadian Senators Group (CSG; , GSC) is a parliamentary group of senators in the Senate of Canada founded in 2019. The current leader of the group is Flordeliz "Gigi" Osler and the deputy leader is Robert "Rob" Black.
History The caucus was formed on November 4, 2019, by eight senators from the Independent Senators Group, two from the Conservative Party of Canada's Senate caucus, and one non-affiliated senator.
In an interview with CTV News' Don Martin, Tannas said that the motivation for him and at least several other senators to depart the ISG was a perceived lack of independence in the contentious spring 2019 legislation related to west coast oil tanker moratoriums and other oil and gas-related legislation. Additionally, Tannas cited the concern that the Independent Senators Group, then numbering 58 Senators, had become too large, and that a "wider range of views and approaches" was needed. In addition, in an effort to avoid "groupthink", CSG interim leader Senator Scott Tannas announced that the initial founding members of the group had agreed to cap membership in the group to no more than 25 members. Also included among the reasons for the founding of a second, non-partisan, and independent Senate caucus was a perennially renewed effort to focus on regional issues, despite this notionally being the constitutionally enshrined purpose of the Senate as a whole.
Included among those decamping to the Canadian Senators Group was Elaine McCoy, who previously served as the ISG's founding facilitator from 2016 to 2017.
On November 18, 2019, two more senators joined the CSG: Percy Downe, formerly of the Progressive Senate Group and Senate Liberal Caucus; and Jean-Guy Dagenais, a Conservative. Downe said he still supported the Liberal Party but liked the "diversity of views" in the CSG; while Dagenais cited disagreements with the leadership of Andrew Scheer, particularly Scheer's social views and the "low importance" he placed on Quebec, as the reasons for his defection.
On February 4, 2022, Dennis Patterson joined the CSG, departing the Conservative caucus. The "last straw" was disappointment that members of the party weren't condemning the Freedom Convoy.
On August 4, 2022, Larry Smith left the Conservative caucus to join the CSG. Smith clarified that he would remain a member of the Conservative Party.
Leaders
Leader: Scott Tannas (since November 4, 2019) Deputy leader: Rebecca Patterson (since October 31, 2023) Liaison: Percy Downe (since November 20, 2019) Deputy liaison: Krista Ross (since December 8, 2024) Chair: Gigi Osler (since October 24, 2023)
Former leaders Deputy leader: Josée Verner (November 4, 2019 – May 13, 2021) Chair: Robert Black (November 20, 2019 – October 24, 2023) Deputy leader: Dennis Patterson (March 21, 2022 – October 31, 2023)
Membership +NameProvince (Division)Former political affiliationJoined caucus Mandatory retirement dateCharles AdlerManitobaNon-affiliated26 May 202525 August 2029Mohammad Al ZaibakOntarioNon-affiliated4 June 20249 August 2026Albert Réjean AucoinNova ScotiaNon-affiliated30 January 20244 July 2030Robert BlackOntarioIndependent Senators Group4 November 201927 March 2037Sharon BureyOntarioNon-affiliated21 February 20234 December 2032Colin DeaconNova ScotiaIndependent Senators Group11 July 20231 November 2034Percy DownePrince Edward IslandProgressive Senate Group18 November 20198 July 2029Clément GignacQuebec (Kennebec)Progressive Senate Group25 October 20247 May 2030Tony InceNova ScotiaNon-affiliated16 December 2032Todd LewisSaskatchewanNon-affiliated28 February 202521 July 2036Gigi OslerManitobaNon-affiliated10 January 20239 September 2043Rebecca PattersonOntarioNon-affiliated12 January 202315 June 2040Paul ProsperNova ScotiaNon-affiliated8 November 20234 November 2039Sandra PupatelloOntarioNon-affiliated6 October 2037Mary RobinsonPrince Edward IslandNon-affiliated3 June 20243 August 2045Krista Ann RossNew BrunswickNon-affiliated10 January 202430 September 2042Larry SmithQuebec (Saurel)Conservative4 August 202228 April 2026Scott TannasAlbertaConservative4 November 201925 February 2037Josée VernerQuebec (Montarville)Independent Senators Group4 November 201930 December 2034Pamela WallinSaskatchewanIndependent Senators Group4 November 201910 April 2028
Former members
+NameProvince (Division)Former political affiliation Joined caucusLeft caucusReasonElaine McCoyAlbertaIndependent Senators Group4 November 201929 December 2020 Died in officeDoug BlackAlbertaIndependent Senators Group4 November 201931 October 2021Resigned from SenateJean-Guy DagenaisQuebec (Victoria)Conservative18 November 20192 February 2025Mandatory retirement from the SenateDiane GriffinPrince Edward IslandIndependent Senators Group4 November 201918 March 2022Mandatory retirement from the SenateVernon WhiteOntarioIndependent Senators Group4 November 20192 October 2022Resigned from SenateLarry CampbellBritish ColumbiaIndependent Senators Group4 November 201924 October 2022Changed affiliation to non-affiliatedDennis PattersonNunavutConservative4 February 202230 December 2023Mandatory retirement from the SenateDavid RichardsNew BrunswickNon-affiliated4 November 201913 May 2024Changed affiliation to non-affiliatedStephen GreeneNova Scotia (Halifax - The Citadel)Independent Senators Group4 November 20198 December 2024Mandatory retirement from the SenateJim QuinnNew BrunswickNon-affiliated8 September 20218 July 2026Changed affiliation to Conservative
See also Independent Senators Group Progressive Senate Group Senate Liberal Caucus
External links Canadian Senators Group
References