Larry Smith Latest Senator to Join Tory Caucus, Marking a Return

Quebec Senator Larry Smith has rejoined the Conservatives’ Senate caucus after switching to the non-affiliated Canadian Senators Group for nearly three years. Smith is the third senator to join the Conservative caucus this month.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos, welcomed Smith in a June 12 statement.

“Senator Smith is widely respected for his principled approach, deep knowledge of public policy, and tireless work ethic,” Housakos said. “He has always been a strong advocate for Quebec and for common-sense conservative values. We are very pleased to have him back.”

Smith is the third senator to join the Senate Conservative caucus this month. Sen. Mary Jane McCallum of Manitoba joined the Tory caucus on June 10 and Sen. David Richards joined on June 3. Both McCallum and Richards were previously non-affiliated senators who were appointed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Smith was first appointed as a Tory senator in 2010 on the advice of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He left the Red Chamber to bid for a seat in the House of Commons but was not successful in winning a seat. Smith was reappointed by Harper in 2011 and served as leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 2017 to 2019.

He left the Conservative caucus in 2022 to join the non-affiliated Canadian Senators Group (CSG). He did not comment publicly on the reason for his departure from the Tory caucus at the time, but later clarified he would still remain a Conservative party member. He has now rejoined the Senate Conservative caucus.

“It’s great to be back with the team,” Smith said in a June 12 statement. “There is important work ahead, and I look forward to contributing to a constructive, focused Conservative voice in the Senate.”

Smith’s move to leave the Conservative caucus to join the CSG was first announced on Aug. 4, 2022, a month before the Tories were set to choose their new leader. Smith had pledged his support for former Quebec Premier Jean Charest who ran for Tory leadership at the time. Charest lost the race to current Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Smith is well known in Quebec, recognized for his time playing as a fullback for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL from 1972 to 1980. He served as president and chief executive officer of the Alouettes from 1997 to 2001, and has been in the same role again since 2004.