Canadian Senate divisions
Canadian Senate divisions have two meanings, the first refers to the four regional Senate divisions of twenty four Senators. The four regional divisions were created with twenty four senator as an attempt to provide equality among the regions of Canada. These regions are The Western Provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Maratimes. Newfoundland and Labrador and the Territories are seperate from the four regional divisions. These four divisions can be expanded when the need arises to have an extra two senators appointed to each regional division.
The second meaning refers to districts represented by Senators from the Canadian Senate. They are dissimilar to House of Commons constituencies in that they are not based upon any population measure but are either fixed in the Constitution Act 1867, in the case of Quebec, or are established upon the appointment of a senator and cease to exist when the senator leaves office.
Senators have the option of maintaining a constituency office that provides all the same services as Members of Parliament, however this is rare. Currently three senators have such offices, however two of the three are not appointed to specific divisions, but to represent their province as a whole. In Quebec, the Constitution mandates that the twenty-four divisions will be the same as those that Canada East held in the Legislative Council of Canada prior to Canadian confederation.
Prior to 1961, Senators had a lot more "constituency work" because divorce was in the perview of Parliament, and because the cost of a private bill introduced in the Senate was $200 compared to $500 for one in the House. There is no legal obligation for providing constituency services.
In provinces other than Quebec, senators are appointed to represent the province as a whole and the royal proclamation makes no reference to divisions. Nonetheless, some senators are said to represent specific divisions which are sometimes announced at the time of appointment and sometimes determined later. These senate divisions have no specific geographic boundaries though their names often give an obvious reference to a general geographic area. A senator can change his or her division in the same manner as party affiliation, simply by notifying the Clerk of the Senate. Some senators have created maps of their senate boundaries even though they hold no legal boundaries.
Changing senate division designations is relatively rare, only five of the current 75 non-Quebec senators have changed their divisions. Reasons for choosing a particular senate division designation vary widely, and there are no specific guidelines or precedents.
Although the origins and exact intentions of self-designated senate divisions are not clear, they were most likely a left-over provision from the October 10, 1864 Quebec City Conference. At that conference, Quebec argued to have its twenty-four senate divisions prescribed in law.
Each of the three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) has only one senator who represents the entire territory.
Quebec regional division
See List of Quebec senators for current and former senators from Quebec senate divisions.
This is the list of permanent Quebec senate divisions as well as the number of Senators representing each division since Confederation in 1867. Quebec can have self-designated senate divisions, when senators are appointed under section 26 of the Constitution Act.
| Division | # Senators | Vacant |
|---|---|---|
| Alma | 8 | |
| Bedford | 8 | |
| De la Durantaye | 12 | |
| De la Vallière | 8 | |
| De Lanaudière | 8 | |
| De Lorimier | 9 | |
| De Salaberry | 10 | |
| Grandville | 8 | |
| Gulf | 11 | |
| Inkerman | 6 | |
| Kennebec | 10 | |
| La Salle | 13 | |
| Lauzon | 10 | |
| Mille Isles | 17 | |
| Montarville | 10 | |
| Repentigny | 7 | |
| Rigaud | 12 | |
| Rougemont | 9 | |
| Saurel | 9 | |
| Shawinigan | 8 | |
| Stadacona | 10 | |
| The Laurentides | 10 | |
| Victoria | 10 | |
| Wellington | 9 |
Ontario regional division
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 7 | 251 | 32 |
| Toronto | 3 | 15 | 18 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Rideau | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Cobourg | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ottawa-Vanier | 1 | 11 | 2 |
| St. Mary's | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Bloor & Yonge/Toronto | 1 | - | 1 |
| Kingston-Frontenac-Leeds | 1 | - | 1 |
| Markham | 1 | - | 1 |
| Metro Toronto | 1 | - | 1 |
| Northern Ontario | 1 | - | 1 |
| Ottawa/Rideau Canal | 1 | - | 1 |
| Pakenham | 1 | - | 1 |
| Peel County | 12 | - | 1 |
| Toronto Centre-York | 13 | - | 1 |
| Toronto Centre | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| Brampton | 12 | - | 1 |
| Hamilton | - | 6 | 6 |
| London | - | 5 | 5 |
| Kingston | - | 4 | 4 |
| Peel | - | 4 | 4 |
| Brockville | - | 3 | 3 |
| Carleton | - | 3 | 3 |
| Lambton | - | 3 | 3 |
| North York | - | 3 | 3 |
| Bowmanville | - | 2 | 2 |
| Erie | - | 2 | 2 |
| Grey | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kenora-Rainy River | - | 2 | 2 |
| Leeds | - | 2 | 2 |
| Lincoln | - | 2 | 2 |
| Middlesex | - | 2 | 2 |
| Milton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Niagara | - | 2 | 2 |
| Nipissing | - | 2 | 2 |
| Ottawa East | - | 2 | 2 |
| Oxford | - | 2 | 2 |
| Russell | - | 2 | 2 |
| Saugeen | - | 2 | 2 |
| Sudbury | - | 2 | 2 |
| Toronto South | - | 2 | 2 |
| Welland | - | 2 | 2 |
| Windsor | - | 2 | 2 |
| York | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alexandria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Algoma | - | 1 | 1 |
| Barrie | - | 1 | 1 |
| Belleville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bothwell | - | 1 | 1 |
| Brantford | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burlington | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cataraqui | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cochrane | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dovercourt | - | 1 | 1 |
| East Toronto | - | 1 | 1 |
| East York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Eganville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Essex | - | 1 | 1 |
| Glen Tay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Gormley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Grafton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Grenville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Halton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hamburg | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hanover | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hastings | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hastings-Frontenac | - | 1 | 1 |
| Huron | - | 1 | 1 |
| Huron-Perth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kent | - | 1 | 1 |
| King's | - | 1 | 1 |
| Leeds and Grenville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lindsay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Midland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Monck | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nepean | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newcastle | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newmarket | - | 1 | 1 |
| Norfolk | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Wellington | - | 1 | 1 |
| Northcumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ottawa Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Parkdale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Parkhill | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pembroke | - | 1 | 1 |
| Perth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Perth North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Peterborough | - | 1 | 1 |
| Peterborough West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Pickering | - | 1 | 1 |
| Port Hope | - | 1 | 1 |
| Port Severn | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prescott | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prince Edward | - | 1 | 1 |
| Quinté | - | 1 | 1 |
| Renfrew | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rockcliffe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rosedale | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Catharines | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Thomas | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sarnia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Scarborough Junction | - | 1 | 1 |
| Simcoe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Simcoe East | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Western Ontario | - | 1 | 1 |
| South York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Surprise Lake | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Parkdale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Spadina | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Rosedale | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Taddle Creek | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto-Trinity | - | 1 | 1 |
| Toronto West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Trent | - | 1 | 1 |
| Trenton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Waterloo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wellington South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wentworth | - | 1 | 1 |
| Windsor-Walkerville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Woodstock | - | 1 | 1 |
| York-Caboto | - | 1 | 1 |
| York Centre | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 227 | ||
Note:
- Senator Jean-Robert Gauthier changed from Ontario to Ottawa-Vanier
- Senator Lorna Milne changed from Brampton to Peel County
- Senator Anne Cools changed from Toronto Centre to Toronto Centre-York
Western provinces regional division
The Western provinces regional division was created under the Constitution Act, 1915 to bring the total to four regional divisions. Six Senators would represent the four western provinces Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan for a total of 24 senators. Prior to 1915 each province had their own evolution of Senate seats.
Evolution of Senate seats in the Western Provinces
| Province | 1870 | 1871 | 1882 | 1889 | 1905 | 1915 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| British Columbia | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Manitoba | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Saskatchewan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Total | 2 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 15 | 24 |
Note:
- 1870 The Manitoba Act, 1870 allowed for 2 Senate seats with an expansion up to four adding seats at 50,000 and 75,000 population
- 1871 The British Columbia terms of Union, 1871 provides three seats for British Columbia
- 1882 Manitoba reaches the population requirements for its third seat, it gained its fourth in 1889
- 1905 Alberta & Saskatchewan are created from the Northwest Territories with four seats each, under the Alberta & Saskatchewan Act 1905
Self designated divisions by province
Alberta & Saskatchewan
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Regina | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| North Battleford | 1 | - | 1 |
| Prince Albert | - | 3 | 3 |
| Moose Jaw | - | 2 | 2 |
| Saskatoon | - | 2 | 2 |
| Assiniboia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Central Saskatchewan | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lumsden | - | 1 | 1 |
| Moosimin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Ponteix | - | 1 | 1 |
| Prince Albert-Duck Lake | - | 1 | 1 |
| Regina-Qu'Appelle | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rosetown | - | 1 | 1 |
| Saskatchewan North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Tantallon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wolseley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 34 | ||
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Calgary | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Lethbridge | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Alberta | - | 7 | 7 |
| Banff | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alberta South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bruce | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bon Accord | - | 1* | 1* |
| Edmonton West | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lakeland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Medicine Hat | - | 1 | 1 |
| Palliser-Foothills | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Paul | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sturgeon | - | 1* | 1* |
| Total Senators | 40/41* | ||
British Columbia & Manitoba
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Winnipeg | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Red River | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Winnipeg-Interlake | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. Boniface | - | 5 | 5 |
| Provencher | - | 3 | 3 |
| Marquette | - | 2 | 2 |
| Selkirk | - | 2 | 2 |
| Brandon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Churchill | - | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Garry | - | 1 | 1 |
| Fort Rouge | - | 1 | 1 |
| Killarney | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kildonan | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lisgar | - | 1 | 1 |
| Manitou | - | 1 | 1 |
| Portage la Prairie | - | 1 | 1 |
| River Heights | - | 1 | 1 |
| Souris | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Rose | - | 1 | 1 |
| Winnipeg North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Winnipeg South | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 43 | ||
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Vancouver | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Vancouver South | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Langley-Pemberton-Whistler | 1 | - | 1 |
| Okanagan-Similkameen | 1 | - | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 4 | 4 |
| New Westminster | - | 3 | 3 |
| Ashcroft | - | 2 | 2 |
| Cariboo | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kamloops | - | 2 | 2 |
| Barkerville | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burrard | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kamloops-Cariboo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kootenay | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kootenay East | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lion's Gate | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nanaimo | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nanaimo-Malaspina | - | 1 | 1 |
| North Shore-Burnaby | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| University-Point Grey | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Burrard | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Centre | - | 1 | 1 |
| Vancouver-Points Grey | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 41 | ||
The Maratimes regional division
The Maratimes regional division was created in 1867. At the time of confederation the division only contained Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Prince Edward Island was supposed to join but they stalled joining until 1873 in protest of equal representation by province. At the Quebec Conference of 1864 the Prince Edward Island representatives belived the only safeguard for a small province would be an equal representation in the Senate. Prince Edward Island held out joining Canada until 1873.
Evolution of Senate seats in The Maratimes
| Province | 1867 | 1873 | 1874 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Nova Scotia | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Prince Edward Island | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Total | 24 | 26 | 24 |
Note:
- 1873 Under the Prince Edward Terms of Union 1873 Prince Edward Island was given 4 seats. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia lost 2 seats to decrease when the first two Senators leave office.
- 1873 New Brunswick Senator William Steeves passes away dropping New Brunswick to 11 seats
- 1873 Nova Scotia Senator John Locke passes away dropping Nova Scotia to 11 seats
- 1874 New Brunswich Senator Robert Hazen passes away dropping New Brunswick to 10 seats
- 1874 Nova Scotia Senator Ezra Churchill passes away dropping Nova Scotia to 10 seats
Self designated divisions by province
Prince Edward Island
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Edward Island | 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Charlottetown | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Queen's | - | 4 | 4 |
| Prince | - | 3 | 3 |
| Cardigan | - | 2 | 2 |
| King's | - | 2 | 2 |
| Alberton | - | 1 | 1 |
| East Prince | - | 1 | 1 |
| Hillsborough | - | 1 | 1 |
| Montague | - | 1 | 1 |
| Mount Stewart | - | 1 | 1 |
| Murray Harbour | - | 1 | 1 |
| Murray River | - | 1 | 1 |
| Park Corner | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Peter's, Kings County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Souris | - | 1 | 1 |
| Summerside | - | 1 | 1 |
| Tignish | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 33 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 1 | ||
New Brunswick & Nova Scotia
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick | 3 | 12 | 15 |
| Fredericton-York-Sunbury | 1 | - | 1 |
| Grand-Sault | 1 | - | 1 |
| Saint John-Kennebecasis | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. Louis de Kent | 1 | - | 1 |
| Tracadie | 1 | - | 1 |
| St. John | - | 9 | 9 |
| L'Acadie | - | 4 | 4 |
| Westmorland | - | 4 | 4 |
| Fredericton | - | 3 | 3 |
| Gloucester | - | 3 | 3 |
| Chatham | - | 2 | 2 |
| Kent | - | 2 | 2 |
| Moncton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Northumberland | - | 2 | 2 |
| Northumberland-Miramichi | - | 2 | 2 |
| Royal | - | 2 | 2 |
| Sunbury | - | 2 | 2 |
| Victoria | - | 2 | 2 |
| Victoria-Carleton | - | 2 | 2 |
| Baie-du-Vin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bathurst | - | 1 | 1 |
| Beauséjour | - | 1 | 1 |
| Charlotte | - | 1 | 1 |
| Charlotte County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Dorchester | - | 1 | 1 |
| Edmundston | - | 1 | 1 |
| Kings and Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| L'Acadie-Acadia | - | 1 | 1 |
| Madawaska-Restigouche | - | 1 | 1 |
| Milltown | - | 1 | 1 |
| Nashwaak Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queen's | - | 1 | 1 |
| Restigouche-Gloucester | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richibucto | - | 1 | 1 |
| Riverview | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rockwood | - | 1 | 1 |
| Rothesay | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John-Albert | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. George | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John City | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John (Lancaster) | - | 1 | 1 |
| Shediac | - | 1 | 1 |
| Southern New Brunswick | - | 1 | 1 |
| Village of Cap-Pelé | - | 1 | 1 |
| York | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 87 | ||
| Vacant Seats | 2 | ||
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | 4 | 14 | 18 |
| Halifax | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| Dartmouth/Eastern Shore | 1 | - | 1 |
| Northend Halifax | 1 | - | 1 |
| Stanhope St./Bluenose | 1 | - | 1 |
| South Shore | 1 | - | 1 |
| Amherst | - | 4 | 4 |
| Cape Breton | - | 4 | 4 |
| Pictou | - | 4 | 4 |
| Colchester | - | 3 | 3 |
| Lunenburg | - | 3 | 3 |
| Antigonish-Guysborough | - | 2 | 2 |
| Halifax-Dartmouth | - | 2 | 2 |
| King's | - | 2 | 2 |
| New Glasgow | - | 2 | 2 |
| North Sydney | - | 2 | 2 |
| Yarmouth | - | 2 | 2 |
| Antigonish | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bedford-Halifax | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cape Breton-The Sydneys | - | 1 | 1 |
| Clare | - | 1 | 1 |
| Colchester-Cumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Colchester-Hants | - | 1 | 1 |
| Cumberland | - | 1 | 1 |
| Digby-Clare | - | 1 | 1 |
| Digby County | - | 1 | 1 |
| Halifax North | - | 1 | 1 |
| Highlands-Canso | - | 1 | 1 |
| Inverness-Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| Liverpool | - | 1 | 1 |
| Londonderry | - | 1 | 1 |
| Margaree Forks | - | 1 | 1 |
| Middleton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Milford-Hants | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queens-Lunenburg | - | 1 | 1 |
| Queens-Shelburne | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond | - | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond West-Cape Breton | - | 1 | 1 |
| Shelburne | - | 1 | 1 |
| South Western Nova | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sydney | - | 1 | 1 |
| Sydney Mines | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Annapolis Valley | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Highlands | - | 1 | 1 |
| Victoria | - | 1 | 1 |
| Wallace | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 94 | ||
The territories and Newfoundland & Labrador
Outside of the four regional divisions, The Territories and the Province of Newfoundland & Labrador exist. Currently three seats exist in the Territories, one for Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Yukon. Six seats exist for Newfoundland & Labrador.
The three territories do not have self desi
| Division | # Senators |
|---|---|
| Northwest Territories | 2* |
| Nunavut | 1* |
| Yukon | 2 |
Note: * Senator Willie Adams' designation changed from "Northwest Territories" to "Nunavut" when Nunavut Territory was created in 1999.
Northwest Territories prior to 1905
| Division | Total |
|---|---|
| Calgary | 1 |
| Edmonton | 1 |
| Prince Albert | 1 |
| Regina | 1 |
| Wolseley | 1 |
| Total Senators | 5 |
Note All Northwest Territories senators became part of Alberta and Saskatchewan after 1905.
Newfoundland & Labrador
| Division | # Current | # Historical | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Harbour Main-Bell Island | 1 | - | 1 |
| North West River, Labrador | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bonavista | - | 2 | 2 |
| St. John's | - | 2 | 2 |
| St. John's East | - | 2 | 2 |
| Avalon | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burgeo-Lapoile | - | 1 | 1 |
| Burin | - | 1 | 1 |
| Bonavista-Twillingate | - | 1 | 1 |
| Humber-St. George's-St. Barbe | - | 1 | 1 |
| Lewisporte | - | 1 | 1 |
| Newfoundland | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. Jacques | - | 1 | 1 |
| St. John's West | - | 1 | 1 |
| The Grand Banks | - | 1 | 1 |
| Waterford-Trinity | - | 1 | 1 |
| West Coast | - | 1 | 1 |
| Total Senators | 25 | ||
See List of Newfoundland and Labrador senators