1st Mountie to wear a turban among trio of new senators appointed by Justin Trudeau
Baltej Dhillon, the first RCMP officer to wear a turban on the job, has now been appointed as a Canadian senator by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Along with Dhillon, Martine Hébert of Quebec and Todd Lewis of Saskatchewan were also appointed to fill three vacancies in the Senate.
Dhillon had a distinguished career in the national police force, retiring in 2019 after nearly 30 years of service. He rose to the rank of inspector and was involved in high-profile cases such as the investigations into serial killer Robert Pickton and the Air India bombing. In 2024, he ran for the provincial NDP in British Columbia’s election but finished second in the Surrey-Serpentine riding.
As a senator, Dhillon will sit as an independent, alongside Hébert, an economist and former diplomat, and Lewis, a farmer and current vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. All three appointments were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, established in 2016.
The role of Canadian senators is to scrutinize and make suggestions for improving legislation passed by elected Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. They serve as the final step before bills can become law. Historically, the Senate represented regional interests and was often used for partisan appointments. However, Trudeau changed the nomination process in 2015, appointing independent senators based on merit rather than political affiliation.
Trudeau’s recent appointments aim to fill all remaining vacancies in the Senate before his departure as prime minister. With the addition of Dhillon, Hébert, and Lewis, there are now seven vacant positions in the Senate, including three in Ontario, and one each in British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The Senate plays a crucial role in Canadian governance, ensuring that legislation is thoroughly reviewed and improved for the benefit of all citizens.
