Several Senators break away to form independent group
Posted November 6, 2019 8:35 am.
Last Updated November 6, 2019 11:33 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A number of Senators are breaking away from their existing parties and forming a new voice.
Eleven senators have come together to form the Canadian Senators Group made of centrist or conservative-leaning members.
The Interim leader is Scott Tannas from High River and explains why he broke away.
“Having gone through a really, really difficult spring as a Senator and Albertan with Bill C-69, the pipeline bill and the tanker ban bill (C-48). As I nursed my wounds through the summer, I really asked myself if I was doing everything I could to leverage my influence of the chamber and how I could do it better.”
Tannas adds the senators will focus heavily on getting the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion built.
The eleven members of the group represent numerous regions of Canada including Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec.
“We really do have a pan-Canadian group,” said Tannas. “We think that there will be others that may be interested in joining us.”
Currently, there are 105 seats in the Canadian Senate including 49 members of the Independent Senators Group. There are also 25 Conservative members.