Quebec Senator Pierre Moreau Named New Government Leader in Senate

Quebec Senator Pierre Moreau is now the government’s representative in the Senate, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced.

“Senator Moreau’s expertise and experience will advance the government’s legislative agenda to bring down costs, keep communities safe, and build one strong Canadian economy,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a July 18 news release announcing Moreau’s appointment.

In the new role, Moreau will be tasked with guiding government legislation through the Upper Chamber.

Moreau has more than four decades of legal and political experience, including as a senator, lawyer, and former member of the Quebec National Assembly. In Quebec’s cabinet, Moreau served as intergovernmental affairs minister, transport minister, municipal affairs minister, energy and natural resources minister, and president of the Treasury Board.

Senate Leader of the Opposition Leo Housakos congratulated Moreau in a July 18 social media post.

“Our Senate Conservative caucus looks forward to working together in service of all Canadians and upholding the important work of the Upper Chamber,” Housakos wrote on X.

Moreau was first appointed to the Senate in September 2024, by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Moreau, 67, has more than seven years remaining before he reaches the Senate’s mandatory retirement age of 75.

Moreau replaces Marc Gold as the government’s previous representative in the senate, who retired from the role last month.

“The Prime Minister thanks Senator Marc Gold for his many years of service as the Government Representative in the Senate and wishes him well on his retirement,” the PMO said.

Gold was appointed by Trudeau as senator in 2016 and named the government’s representative in the Senate in 2020.

Trudeau Appointees

Currently, 85 of the 105 Canadian senators are Trudeau appointees. Trudeau made 100 Senate appointments during his time as prime minister, which was only surpassed by former Prime Minister William Mackenzie King, who made 103 Senate appointments. However, Mackenzie King served for almost 22 years, which is more than twice Trudeau’s time in power.

Three non-affiliated senators appointed by Trudeau moved to the Conservative Senate Caucus last month.

Senator David Adams Richards joined the Conservative caucus on June 3, Mary Jane McCallum on June 10, and Larry Smith on June 12.

Trudeau removed all senators from the Liberal caucus in 2014 before he was elected prime minister in 2015, in a bid to make the Upper Chamber non-partisan. Once he became prime minister, he only appointed independent senators, saying that party affiliation interfered with the Senate’s duty to provide proper checks and balances, and magnified the prime minister’s power.

Noé Chartier and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.