Pierre Dalphond

Pierre Dalphond (born May 1, 1954) is a Canadian lawyer and jurist who currently serves as a Canadian senator from Quebec (De Lorimier). He was appointed to the Senate on June 6, 2018.^[1] Since 2024, he has been leader of the Progressive Senate Group.^[2]

The Honourable Pierre Dalphond
Leader of the Progressive Senate Group
Incumbent
Assumed office February 27, 2024
Preceded by	Jane Cordy
Senator from Quebec (De Lorimier)
Incumbent
Assumed office June 6, 2018
Nominated by	Justin Trudeau
Appointed by	Julie Payette
Personal details
Born	(1954-05-01) May 1, 1954 (age 71) Joliette, Quebec
Political party	Progressive Senate Group
Other political affiliations	Independent Senators Group (until 2020)

Early life and career

Born in Joliette, Quebec, Dalphond was educated at the University of Montreal, Dalhousie University and the University of Oxford. He served as a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada and worked in the Privy Council Office. He is a lawyer and mediator by training, currently working at Stikeman Elliott. He was appointed to the Superior Court of Quebec in 1995 and to the Quebec Court of Appeal in 2002. He retired from the Court of Appeal in 2014.^[1][3]

Senate

From his appointment, Dalphond sat as a member of the Independent Senators Group. On May 21, 2020, Dalphond joined the Progressive Senate Group. His addition to the caucus brought the PSG's caucus to nine, and restored its official status.^[4]

Dalphond announced his intention to oppose use of the Emergencies Act during the "Freedom Convoy" protests, suggesting that it was a violation of section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which relates to "unreasonable search and seizure."^[5]