Prime minister appoints Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold to Senate

Sam Farley · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 07, 2025 5:25 PM EST | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

Dawn Arnold, the politician of Moncton, has been appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Announced precocious Friday afternoon, a news release from Trudeau's bureau described Arnold arsenic "an accomplished nationalist servant with implicit 30 years of acquisition successful municipal government, assemblage development, and publishing."

As mayor, "she championed nationalist engagement and biology sustainability, guiding Moncton toward accelerated maturation portion fostering a vibrant, inclusive community," the connection said. 

Arnold volition instrumentality the spot near vacant by Moncton's Nancy Hartling, who retired from the Senate this twelvemonth aft serving since 2016.

Arnold was elected politician successful 2016 aft antecedently serving arsenic a metropolis councillor for 4 years.

In a Facebook post, Arnold said it was an honour to beryllium selected.

"The Prime Minister was wide that helium expects maine to marque a important publication to the enactment of the Senate, and to actively beryllium progressive successful the wide scope of challenges and opportunities facing our country," Arnold wrote.

"He besides underlined the information that I volition beryllium capable to lend to the enactment of the Senate successful an autarkic and non-partisan fashion, which is highly appealing to me. While my relation is changing, my committedness to this metropolis and to each Monctonians remains unwavering."

The city's website describes Arnold arsenic a protagonist of section arts and culture, serving connected the committee of the Frye Festival for 15 years. 

She is simply a recipient of a fig of honours, including the Order of New Brunswick, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal, the YWCA's Women of Distinction Award, and the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres from the Government of France.

Deputy Mayor Paulette Thériault will beryllium acting mayor, effectual immediately, a statement from the metropolis said.

Paul Harpelle, spokesperson for Elections N.B., said Moncton volition person to hold until May 11, 2026, to capable Arnold's vacancy.

Although by-elections are being this spring, Harpelle said the deadline to beryllium included was Feb. 28.

"In this peculiar case, it is excessively precocious for america to person thing from Moncton notifying america of a vacancy."