Did you know? Five members of the Canadian Senate are from B.C.

Five of the 105 members of the Canadian Senate are from B.C., but it appears very few people know that.

Canada’s Senate has existed alongside the House of Commons since Confederation, and in theory, senators are up there with MPs in the political power they wield. They can introduce most types of legislation and need to approve anything passed by the House.

B.C. has six of Canada’s senate seats. With one vacancy there are currently five B.C. Senators:

Former Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell

Mobina Jaffer

Yonah Martin

Richard Neufeld

Nancy Greene Raine

For all its power, the Senate rarely flexes its muscles. Its legitimacy is clouded because Senators aren’t elected. It’s been said if they pass everything quickly, they’re rubber-stamping.

If they don’t they’re abusing their power.

Each Senator earns $132,300 until their term ends at age 75.