PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
New Facilitator and Deputy Facilitator of the Independent Senators Group
OTTAWA, November 29, 2021 - The Independent Senators Group announced today that Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain elected by acclamation, will serve as the next Facilitator to the ISG. She will be joined by Senator Tony Dean, who will serve as Deputy Facilitator. Senator Saint-Germain and Senator Dean are prominent senators who have dedicated their long-standing career to public service.
“We are proud and humbled to serve as the head of the first group of independent senators whose diversity, multidisciplinary expertise and independence are impressive. We also look forward to working in collaboration with the other groups and caucuses in fulfilling our constitutional duties,” said the designated Facilitator and Deputy Facilitator.
Senator Raymonde Saint-Germain is an experienced public administrator from Quebec. She held numerous deputy minister positions in the Quebec public service for more than a decade. Prior to her appointment to the Senate of Canada, she served for two consecutive five-year terms as the Quebec Ombudsperson while receiving the unanimous approval of the Quebec National Assembly prior to each of her terms. Since 2017, Senator Saint-Germain has held the position of Deputy Facilitator of the Independent Senators Group. She has also since then been an active member of the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, notably in chairing the Standing Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Senator Tony Dean has been a member of the Independent Senators Group since his appointment to the Upper Chamber in November 2016. He was Secretary of the Cabinet and Head of the Ontario Public Service from 2002-2008 and is a distinguished fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Dean has focused his efforts on Senate reform including supporting more efficient approaches to the organization of the Senate’s work. Examples of this include the Senate’s review of Medical Assistance in Dying legislation and Bill C-45, The Cannabis Act.
“It has been an honour to serve as Facilitator the last four years," said Senator Yuen Pau Woo, current Facilitator of the ISG, as he welcomed his colleagues in their new roles. "The ISG is in excellent hands under the leadership of Senators Saint-Germain and Dean, and I give them my full support.”
The change will take effect on January 1, 2022.
– 30 –
For more information please contact:
Ro Izzetpanah
Senior Communications Specialist
Independent Senators Group (ISG)
Comments