Canada

Senate

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

About parliament

Basic information such as the official name of parliament and details of its structure and leadership. Also includes the current breakdown of MPs by sex and age, and provisions for quotas and reserved seats.

Parliament name
Parliament of Canada - Parlement du Canada
Chamber name
Senate
Structure & status of parliament
Upper chamber
Parliamentary term (years)
-

Notes: Continuous (The dissolution of Parliament discharges Senators from their parliamentary duties until the next Parliament assembles).

IPU membership

Affiliation periods
from 1912 to 1932
from 1960
IPU Geopolitical Group/s
Asia-Pacific Group
Twelve Plus Group

Notes: Geopolitical group affiliation in case of elections: Twelve Plus Group

Speaker

Official title
Speaker of the Senate
Speaker
Raymonde Gagné (Female)
Date of birth: 1956
Term
12 May 2023
Additional information

Appointed on 12 May 2023.
As the Speaker of the Senate serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister, there is no set term.

Speaker terms

Click for historical data

Secretary general

Official title
Clerk of the Senate and Clerk of the Parliaments
Secretary General
Shaila Anwar (Female)
Term
06 May 2024
Notes

Appointed on 6 May 2024.

Members

Statutory number of members
105

Notes:

Appointed by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Senators serve until they are 75 years old.

Principal mode of designation of members
Appointed
Appointed members
105
Current number of members
99
Men
46
Women
53
Percentage of women
53.5%
Statutory number of members per country 
443
Population (in thousands)
39,299
Inhabitants per parliamentarian
88,711

Age

Data on the age of parliamentarians is collected at the start of the legislature, following the most recent elections. This data is not updated during the legislature, except when parliament notifies the IPU of a change in the youngest or oldest member.

Average age of all members
65.9
(2021-11)
Number of members, by age (2021-11)
Breakdown of members by age and gender
18 - 20 21 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 45 46 - 50 51 - 60 61 - 70 71 - 80 81 - 90 91 and over Totals per gender
Male 0 0 0 0 1 8 23 15 0 0 47
Female 0 0 0 1 1 9 22 12 0 0 45
Totals per age interval 0 0 0 1 2 17 45 27 0 0 92
Total <= 45: 1 Total >= 46: 91
Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal Overall Male Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger
0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger
0.0% 0% 0.0%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger
1.1% 0% 1.1%

Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups
No
Electoral quota for women
No
Youth quota
No

Links to additional information

Parliamentary website
List of members
Rules of procedure/Standing Orders
Constitution

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No