Patti LaBoucane-Benson

The Honourable
Patti LaBoucane-Benson
Senator for Alberta
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 3, 2018
Nominated byJustin Trudeau
Appointed byJulie Payette
Deputy Representative of the Government in the Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 12, 2023
LeaderMarc Gold
Preceded byRaymonde Gagné
Government Liaison in the Senate
In office
January 31, 2020 – May 12, 2023
LeaderMarc Gold
Preceded byGrant Mitchell
Succeeded byMichèle Audette
Personal details
Born (1969-02-20) February 20, 1969 (age 55)
Political partynon-affiliated (since 2020)
Other political
affiliations		Independent Senators Group (2018-2020)
Professionacademic

Patti LaBoucane-Benson (born February 20, 1969) is a Canadian academic and politician. A Métis, she serves as director of research at the Native Counselling Services of Alberta.[1] She was appointed to the Senate of Canada on October 3, 2018 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[2]

On January 31, 2020, she was appointed Government Liaison by Representative of the Government in the Senate Marc Gold. The role entails acting as a whip to secure votes for government legislation.[3]

She was the winner of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature in 2016 for The Outside Circle, a graphic novel she cowrote with Kelly Mellings.[4]

  1. ^ "Trudeau taps Indigenous advocate, G7 organizer for Senate seats in Alberta and Ontario". Toronto Star, October 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Edmontonians Paula Simons, Patti LaBoucane-Benson appointed to Senate". CBC News Edmonton, October 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "With two new Senate appointments, Trudeau has now appointed half of the upper house". CBC News. January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  4. ^ "Graphic novel The Outside Circle wins $12K Burt Award". CBC Books, October 13, 2016.