Government Representative in the Senate

formerly

Leader of the Government in the Senate

The Senate was created under the Constitution Act, 1867, primarily to protect regional interests but also to provide what George-Etienne Cartier called a "power of resistance to oppose the democratic element."

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Duties

The Leader of the Government in the Senate was responsible for the government's program in the Senate by:

planning and managing the government's legislative program in the Senate;
maintaining relations with the Opposition on all matters concerning Senate activities; and
working with the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons to ensure the effective coordination of the government’s legislative program.

In 2016, the title was changed to Government Representative in the Senate in order to reflect the Government’s goal of transforming the Senate into a more independent and less partisan institution. In contrast with past government leaders, the Government Representative does not lead a partisan caucus of senators affiliated to the governing party.

The Honourable Pierre Moreau

Pierre Moreau was appointed to the Senate in 2024, after over 40 years of legal and political experience. After starting his career by practising public and administrative law in private practice for nine years, Mr. Moreau worked at the Montreal law firm Bélanger Sauvé from 1991 to 2003. From 1996 to 2003, he also taught public and administrative law at the École du Barreau du Québec.

The Honourable Pierre Moreau

In 2003, Mr. Moreau entered politics and was elected as a member of the Quebec National Assembly for Marguerite-D'Youville. He was subsequently re-elected in Châteauguay in 2008, 2012, and 2014. He held a number of important positions in the Quebec Cabinet, including Minister responsible for Canadian Intergovernmental Affairs and the Canadian Francophonie, Minister of Transport, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Land Occupancy, Minister of Education and Higher Education, President of the Treasury Board, and Minister responsible for Government Administration and Ongoing Program Review, as well as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.

In 2019, Mr. Moreau returned to Bélanger Sauvé as managing partner. He was also a panellist on ICI RDI's television program Mordus de politique and a contributor to the radio morning show Puisqu'il faut se lever. He was appointed to the Senate in September 2024.

Active in the community, Mr. Moreau is a member of the Board of Directors of the Quebec Blue Cross and the Chair of its Ethics and Compliance Committee. Previously, he served as President of the Quebec Chapter and member of the Executive Committee of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas, as a supporting member of the Fondation Jeanne-Crevier, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Centre d'hébergement et de soins de longue durée de la municipalité régionale de comté de Champlain.

Mr. Moreau holds a Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1982.