Mark Carney hands Tory MP, top PMO adviser Senate seats

Tech CEO Thomas Pitfield is a long-time Liberal strategist, having previously served as Prime MInister Mark Carney's principal secretary

Published Jul 07, 2026  •  2 minute read

Senate of Canada building in Ottawa March 2, 2026. Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia File

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OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his first-ever batch of Senate appointees on Tuesday, filling four of 10 vacancies in the Red Chamber.

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Quebec will claim half of those four seats, with former Conservative MP Richard Martel and former PMO staffer Thomas Pitfield both set to represent the province.

The pair will also be joined by New Brunswick medical researcher Dr. Rodney Ouellette, and Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba CEO Geeta Tucker.

Carney announced all four appointments in a press release issued Tuesday.

PM does away with Trudeau-era non-partisanship rules

Pitfield, a data strategist and founder of Canadian technology firm Data Sciences Inc., is a long-time Liberal party insider.

He was a key advisor to Carney’s 2025 election campaign team, and later served as Carney’s principal secretary in the PMO, advising the PM on “government priorities, including artificial intelligence, innovation, productivity, and Canada’s digital economy,” according to a bio furnished by the PMO.

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Pitfield also served as a senior policy advisor to Senate government leader Jack Austin, and served as digital adviser to election campaigns of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the past decade.

Pitfield’s appointment comes as Carney makes key changes to the Senate appointment process, doing away with rules concerning non-partisanship in Senate appointments introduced during the Justin Trudeau administration.

“This decision recognises the valuable contributions made by Canadians who have chosen to serve in elected office or in other partisan roles, including knowledge of the governing and legislative processes, which will contribute to a stronger, more effective Senate,” the PMO said in a statement. 

Martel, who served as the Conservative MP for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, entered the House of Commons in Dec. 2017 after a byelection win.

He held that seat through three federal elections, and will resign his seat in the federal Conservative caucus to take the Senate appointment.

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New Senate advisory board coming

“These individuals bring a wealth of experience in the challenges and opportunities facing Canada today, including technology, artificial intelligence, business, finance, health care, as well as regulatory and parliamentary affairs,” the PMO said in a statement.

“Their expertise will strengthen the Senate’s capacity to advance ambitious new legislation with scrutiny and rigour.”

The PMO said five more appointments will be made before the end of 2026, which will be chosen by a new Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, which is expected to be struck in the coming days. 

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