The Senate.

• Author: Ethier, Celine
• Position: Legislative Reports

The Senate was summoned by Proclamation to meet on December 3, 2015. On this initial day of the First Session of the 42nd Parliament of Canada, a new Speaker was appointed by the Governor General on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. George Furey is a native of St. John's, Newfoundland, where he was an educator and lawyer. Before his appointment as Speaker, he was Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

In his statement on the appointment of Speaker Furey, the Prime Minister noted that the Senate would be undergoing important changes as it moved towards becoming a more independent and less partisan chamber. Speaker Furey demonstrated this by becoming an independent senator shortly after his appointment. Senators John Wallace and Jacques Demers have also recently become independents.

There is currently no Leader of the Government in the Senate. The government has indicated that it will choose a government representative from the first list of candidates submitted by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. The lack of a government leader led to a question of privilege by Senator Leo Housakos. On February 4, 2016, the Speaker ruled that there was no breach of privilege as the appointment of a leader is a Crown prerogative.

Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette revived her question of privilege from last fall related to leaks of the content of the report of the Auditor General on Senate expenses. The Speaker ruled, on January 26, 2016, that a prima facie case of privilege had been established.

Committees and Legislation

The Standing Senate Committee on National Finance was created very early in the new session, with leave of the...