Justice Murray Sinclair with Justin Trudeau at December’s Truth and Reconciliation event. Photo courtesy NCTR, Twitter
Former TRC Commissioner Justice Murray Sinclair is humbly accepting a senate appointment.
The upcoming appointments of seven new senators were revealed earlier on Friday by an independent, non-partisan advisory board that had been set up by the new Liberal government in January.
In response to the announcement, Sinclair says his new role in the upper chamber will continue his lifetime of service to Canadians.
Sinclair says he comes into the position with hope for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous people. This is a continuation of his attitude towards the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which he was the head of for six years before its full recommendations were released in December.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has approve the appointment.
Having served the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years, Sinclair has a long list of credentials to join the upper chamber. He was the first aboriginal judge appointed in Manitoba and Canada’s second.
In a media release issued on Friday morning, Sinclair stated “I believe that the higher calling of public service is a sacred honour and it is with great humility that I accept this recommendation to be appointed.”
It’s been months since the TRC’s final report was released, and Sinclair says now he has even more optimism that “we are entering a new era of relations with Indigenous people in Canada.
“It is my wish to work toward repairing this relationship and doing what I can to make reconciliation a reality in Canada.”
As a senator representing Manitoba, Sinclair says he’s committed to promoting regional balance in the senate.
Among others, Sinclair will join Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc and Peter Harder, the long-time civil servant who headed Justin Trudeau’s transition team when the Liberals took power last November.
Canada hasn’t had any new appointments since 2013, when the senate scandal unfolded. The Liberals have committed to fill the remaining 17 senate vacancies by year’s end.
(With files from the Canadian Press)