As both Speaker of the Senate and a senator representing the province of New Brunswick, my daily tasks are varied and steeped in tradition. My role as the Speaker of the Senate puts me as fourth on the Canadian Order of Precedence and as a result, at the invitation of the government, I often represent Canada during state events here in Canada and abroad as well as host of delegations of international government representatives when they visit Canada. Forging these links with other democratic governments is key to broadening our horizons as well as highlighting the role of Canada’s Upper Chamber. Visit the Diplomacy section of my Web site for more information on my diplomatic duties. To see the types of visitors I have hosted and diplomatic visits I have led, please be sure to visit the News Releases section of this site.

Each day that the Senate sits to debate and consider legislation, these sessions begin with a formal procession into the Senate Chamber. The Speaker’s Parade is a time-Honoured tradition and since becoming Speaker, each Thursday sitting the procession passes through the Hall of Honour and by the groups of people visiting Parliament before entering the Senate Chamber.

Presiding over the sittings of the Senate is a role that necessitates my political impartiality as I often need to provide guidance to various elements of the procedural aspect of the Senate sitting through Speaker’s Rulings. These decisions are based on the directives set out in the Rules of the Senate which govern how the Senate sittings function. By visiting the Speaker’s Ruling section of my Web site, you can see the matters I have ruled on since becoming Speaker.

Even though during the Senate sittings I remain impartial, in my role as a New Brunswick Conservative senator, I still seek to advance the viewpoint of the people I represent as well as focus on particular issues that are important to me such as human rights. Browsing through the Human Rights, Reflections and Speeches sections of my site will provide you with insight into the matters that are priorities for me and which I am seeking to advance.

Speaker Kinsella welcomes new Usher of the Black Rod of the Senate, Mr. Kevin MacLeod, C.V.O.

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