Senate Conservative Caucus

The Senate Conservative Caucus is the parliamentary caucus in the Canadian Senate composed of senators of the Conservative Party of Canada. Unlike other Senate caucuses, the Senate Conservative Caucus is formally affiliated with the federal political party and is also part of the national parliamentary caucus made up of members of both houses of Parliament, though the Senate Conservative Caucus also meets separately to discuss Senate issues.

The caucus was created following the establishment of the modern Conservative Party of Canada on February 2, 2004 as a result of the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. All but three Progressive Conservative Senators joined the Conservative Party and were redesignated as Conservative senators.

When in government, the leader of the Senate Conservative Caucus, is also the Leader of the Government in the Senate, and has been appointed by the national Conservative Party leader, serving as Prime Minister of Canada. When in Opposition, the Senate Conservative Leader, acting as well as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada is elected by Conservative senators. Most recently, Larry Smith was elected Senate Conservative leader on March 28, 2017, defeating two other candidates.^[1]

The first leader of the Senate Conservative Caucus, John Lynch-Staunton, also served as interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada until a leadership election could be held.

Leaders of the Senate Conservative Caucus

• John Lynch-Staunton, February 2, 2004 to September 30, 2004
• Noël A. Kinsella, October 1, 2004 to February 6, 2006
• Marjory LeBreton, February 6, 2006 to July 14, 2013
• Claude Carignan, August 20, 2013 to March 31, 2017
• Larry Smith, April 1, 2017 to present

References