Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson says her move to the Senate Conservative Caucus was “guided solely by my responsibility to effectively represent the North.”
The senator’s switch was announced on Wednesday by Senate Conservative Leader Leo Housakos. She was previously a member of the Progressive Senate Group.
There are four recognized groups in the Senate: the Progressive, Independent and Canadian senators’ groups and the Conservative caucus, which is the lone group to retain an affiliation with a federal political party. It’s also possible to sit as a non-affiliated senator.
Anderson, the NWT’s lone senator, stated she had received “no offer or incentive” to make the move and had “joined the Senate caucus, not the federal Conservative Party.”
Moving to the Conservative caucus “does not fundamentally change the work I do as the Senator for the Northwest Territories,” said Anderson in a statement issued on Friday.
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“My commitment remains unwavering: to represent the people, the communities, and the priorities of the North with honesty, integrity, and determination.
“I was appointed to the Senate of Canada as an Independent Senator, not as a member of any political party. This move is not a crossing of the floor, nor does it reflect a shift in partisanship or ideology as I remain an Independent Senator. Rather, it represents a strategic decision to align with a caucus structure that provides stronger opportunities for collaboration, committee participation, and advocacy on behalf of the Northwest Territories.”
Without providing specifics, Anderson said the Progressive Senate Group increasingly did not serve “the evolving needs of my work and the unique realities of the Northwest Territories.”
“Joining the Senate Conservative Caucus offers new opportunities to broaden knowledge, strengthen relationships, and bring greater attention to key northern issues, including housing, health, infrastructure, economic development, food security, and climate change,” Anderson wrote.
“Ultimately, my focus remains on the Northwest Territories supporting education, building partnerships, and ensuring that federal legislation includes genuine consultation and engagement with Inuit, First Nations, and Métis peoples, as well as territorial and Indigenous governments.
“My goal remains constant: to create awareness, build understanding, and champion the people, communities, and strengths of the North.”
