Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaCanadian PoliticsCarney appoints Conservative MP from Quebec to Senate, along with principal secretaryMartel, now a former MP, has been serving as the Conservative MP for the riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord since 2018Last updated 2 minutes ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.Conservative MP Richard Martel speaks during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 7, 2026. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /PostmediaOTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is appointing Quebec Conservative MP Richard Martel to the Senate, as he announces changes to the appointment process.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorMartel, now a former MP, has been serving as the Conservative MP for the riding of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord since 2018. A spokesperson in the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Martel will sit as an Independent. Carney announced on Tuesday Martel was among four names he was elevating to the Upper Chamber, with another one being his principal secretary, Tom Pitfield.Pitfield, a digital strategist who worked on Carney’s 2025 election campaign, is also longtime Liberal and friend of former prime minister Justin Trudeau.Carney also appointed to the Senate physician Dr. Rodeny Oulette and executive Geeta Tucker. The Prime Minister’s Office announced that Carney was also changing the criteria for Senate appointments, removing the “non-partisanship criterion” for picks and emphasizing that prospective candidates would be judged on “expertise in key Canadian strategic industries, regulatory frameworks, and emerging social and economic affairs.”Martel’s departure means there will need to be a byelection held in Chicoutimi—Le Fjord which, before Martel’s byelection win in 2018, swung to the Liberals back in 2015.His appointment also means that Opposition Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre loses another MP, bringing his party’s seat count in Parliament to 139. Last year, Poilievre lost four MPs through defections to the Liberals.In a statement posted to X, Senator Leo Housakos, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, welcomed the new Senate appointees, calling Martel a “longtime friend and colleague.”“I look forward to continuing our collaboration and working with all our new colleagues in service to Canadian women and men.”More to come …Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our politics newsletter, First Reading, here. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.