Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced the appointment of a new independent senator to fill one of the Senate鈥檚 few remaining vacancies.

The Prime Minister鈥檚 Office says in a news release that the Governor General has appointed Duncan Wilson as an independent senator to fill a vacancy in the Senate for British Columbia.

The release says Wilson is a 鈥渟easoned executive鈥� with more than 30 years of experience in the maritime sector, government and not-for-profit organizations. It says he has been a 鈥渟trong advocate鈥� for marine conservation, climate action and sustainable development.

There were 22 vacancies in the Senate when Trudeau became prime minister in 2015 and launched what his government called a 鈥渘ew, non-partisan, merit-based process鈥� to advise on appointments.

There have been 95 independent appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Trudeau, with a dozen in 2024 and four more this month.

The Senate of Canada website indicates that five vacancies remain.