As an Independent Senator representing Ontario, I have chosen to be a member of the Independent Senators Group – a parliamentary group within the Senate of Canada. It was created as an alternative to partisan caucuses, and allows Senators who are not affiliated with a political party to meet formally to consider the issues of the day.
Senators who join the ISG do not share an ideology or political agenda, nor do they vote as a block to support or oppose any piece of legislation. Votes are never whipped. Rather, each member is asked to champion the rights all Senators have as parliamentarians to deliberate individually, share their views and vote based on their own conscience. Though its members may try to persuade one another on a particular bill, motion or inquiry, each makes their own judgement based solely on the merits of a particular policy.
For a list of Senators who make up the ISG’s membership and leadership positions, please review the Senate website here.
ISG Leadership Team:
I currently serve on the ISG Leadership Team as the Scroll Manager. As such, I am tasked with organizing chamber proceedings on behalf of the Group. Each sitting day, the Senator meets with representatives from other parliamentary groups and caucuses – the Conservatives and Senate Liberals – to exchange information on how Senators intend to participate in Chamber debates and Question Period. Every item on the Senate’s Order Paper is discussed, from Question Period and Senators’ Statements to motions, inquiries, and pieces of legislation.
Scroll Managers are crucial in ensuring that each Senator has the information needed to participate in the Senate Chamber. They provide structure and predictability to each sitting day, and ensure that every Senator is informed enough to meaningfully participate in debates.