The widow of a former Saskatchewan MP is among five new senators appointed Friday.
Denise Batters joins new appointees Lynn Beyak and Victor Oh from Ontario, Doug Black from Alberta, and David Wells from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Batters is a lawyer and a senior figure in Saskatchewan's Crown Investments Corp. She also became a mental health advocate after the suicide of her husband, Regina MP Dave Batters.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper called the five new senators “remarkable Canadians who have distinguished themselves in their respective pursuits.”
The Conservatives now hold 65 of the 105 Senate seats. The rest include 36 Liberals, one Progressive Conservative, two independents and one vacancy.
"I look forward to working with these talented individuals in parliament,” Harper said in a statement. “Their collective experience and dedication are most welcome as our Government continues to work on addressing the needs and expectations of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”
Beyak is a realtor from northwestern Ontario who has worked on improving education equality and preventing violence in school.
Oh is a property developer who was born in China and has devoted himself to helping newcomers start their own businesses.
Black, a well-known lawyer from Calgary, was selected by the people of Alberta in a Senate consultation process last spring.
Wells is an executive who was most recently the deputy CEO of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board and is experienced in government and regulatory affairs.
With files from CTVNews.ca Staff
