Two new Senators have been appointed in Alberta by Governor-General Mary Simon. Daryl Fridhandler, a corporate lawyer, and Kristopher Wells, a professor who criticizes Alberta’s pronoun legislation in schools will represent the province in the Senate.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Saturday. Fridhandler, a lawyer from Calgary with 40 years of experience, has been appointed along with Wells, an LGBTQ2 champion known for promoting diversity and human rights.
Wells’ appointment is expected to face criticism from the provincial government due to his opposition to the pronoun policy. However, political scientist Duane Bratt believes that the Senate should represent the diversity of Canada and include experts from various fields.
The statement from the Prime Minister’s office mentions that the appointments were recommended by an independent advisory board for Senate appointments, ensuring the senators’ independence.
Despite the appointments, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith criticized Trudeau for disregarding the interests of Albertans. Smith’s government plans to introduce legislation on pronouns in schools, along with other policies, in the upcoming fall session.
Overall, Trudeau congratulated Fridhandler and Wells on their appointment to the Senate and emphasized the importance of their voices for their communities.
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