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Current opportunities

Canadians can apply for appointment to the Senate through an open application process based on transparent, merit-based criteria and requirements under the Constitution. The Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments is currently accepting applications for six (6) upcoming vacancies in the Senate: one (1) in New Brunswick, three (3) in Nova Scotia and two (2) in Ontario. The deadline to submit an application is January 25, 2017 at 23:59 ET.

Previous applicants who wish to be considered for upcoming Senate vacancies in the current cycle of the permanent process must reapply online using the Senate Appointments Self-Serve (SASS) system in order to be considered by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments. Previous applications will not be transferred automatically to this process.

Forms and templates required to prepare your application package are available on our website. As it will take some time and effort to prepare your application, we encourage you to start as early as possible to ensure your application is submitted before the application deadline.

The Government of Canada produces a wide variety of publications in various print and electronic formats. Some formats may not be accessible to screen readers. Alternate accessible formats are available upon request. Please contact us toll-free at 1-888-854-1806 (toll-free in North America; TTY 1-800-465-7735). 

How to apply

Step 1: You are encouraged to review information about the role of the Senate, the job of a Senator and the assessment criteria and to consider how well you meet each of the criteria and requirements.

Step 2: Gather the necessary supporting documents.

Important - Please download and save the forms before starting to fill them out in order to preserve your work.

A complete application package includes the following documents:

• A completed application form;
  
  
  • Important -  You must use the template provided.
     
• Your curriculum vitae*;
  
  
• Three (3) signed and completed reference letters*; and
  
  
  • Important - Information regarding the reference letters can be found in our Frequently Asked Questions.
     
• A completed, signed Background Check Consent form.
  
  
  • Candidates should print, complete, sign by hand, and scan (in PDF format) their completed Background Check Consent Form prior to uploading it on the Senate Appointments Self-Serve system. You must use the template provided. Other forms or background check results from other organizations will not be accepted. When preparing your Background Check Consent Form, please:
    
    
    1. ensure that all required information has been entered, including the date at the bottom of the form;
    2. print the completed form;
    3. sign the form by hand;
    4. scan the form and save it in PDF format; and
    5. ensure that all of the content is clearly visible in the scanned file.

*It is strongly recommended that you use these templates. You may use a different format as long as you include the same information and respect the limits on length. 

Step 3: Follow the “Apply now” link below to access the Senate Appointments Self-Serve (SASS) system.

Step 4: Create your profile in the Senate Appointments Self-Serve system OR log into the system if you already have a profile. Select the province for which you want to apply.

Step 5: Follow the instructions and upload your documents: application form, curriculum vitae, three (3) signed and completed reference letters, and a signed and completed Background Check Consent Form. The system automatically saves your draft application as you upload your documents.  You can finish it at another time prior to the application deadline

Step 6: Submit your application once it is complete. Note that you can update your submitted application at any time prior to the application deadline.

Apply now