Jamaican Appointed to the Senate of Canada

By Neil Armstrong

Photo contributed   Dr. Rosemary Moodie has been appointed as an independent senator to the Senate of Canada

A Jamaican physician has been appointed as an independent senator to the Senate of Canada.

Dr. Rosemary Moodie was appointed to the Senate by Governor General of Canada, Julie Payette, on December 12 alongside three others: Margaret Dawn Anderson of the Northwest Territories, Pat Duncan of the Yukon and Dr. Stanley Kutcher of Nova Scotia.

In making the announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Dr. Moodie has made significant contributions to reduce social inequities and health disparities among children and communities locally and internationally. 

She currently works as a neonatologist at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and as a clinical teacher at the University of Toronto’s Department of Paediatrics.

“These four new independent senators bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience that will greatly benefit Parliament and all of Canada. They know what it means to serve, and have dedicated their careers to making a difference in the lives of others. I look forward to working with them on issues that matter most to Canadians,” said Prime Minister Trudeau.

He thanked the members of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments for their work, noting that, “their recommendations have helped us appoint senators who reflect Canada’s diversity, who will make significant contributions to the work of Parliament, and who will ensure a high standard of integrity, collaboration, and non-partisanship in the Red Chamber.”

Dr. Moodie graduated from St. Hugh’s High School and received her Bachelor of Science and Medical degrees from the University of the West Indies. In 2017, she was conferred the honour of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander in recognition of her outstanding contribution in philanthropy, community development, and medicine in the Jamaican diaspora in Canada.

She is also the recipient of the University of the West Indies Alumni, Distinguished Service Award for Maternal and Child Health in 2017.


Dr. Moodie shares her health care expertise in the academic environment and her community.

The associate professor of paediatrics is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and Fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics. She is also a consultant in health care and national surveyor with Accreditation Canada advancing quality in health care.

Dr. Moodie has been a strong advocate for woman and girls. Her contributions to reducing social inequities and health disparities of children and communities have been significant.

She has done so by promoting public policy through organizational leadership, mentorship, and community volunteerism.

Dr. Moodie is on the board of directors of ScotiaBank Jamaica Foundation and inaugural board of Canada’s largest Catholic healthcare organization, Providence Healthcare, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, and St. Michael’s Hospital Toronto.

She was the president and board chair of the YWCA Toronto when the Elm Centre was completed. The Elm Centre is Canada’s largest affordable housing project for single low-income women, women with mental health and addiction issues, and families of Aboriginal ancestry.

In recognition of her continued success in her field, Dr. Moodie is the recipient of many awards and distinctions from the University of the West Indies, Canadian Paediatric Society, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, University of Toronto, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, and City of Toronto.

In 2016, Dr. Moodie, who is married to Dr. Peter Wong, and her son, Dr. Jonathan Peter Wong, were both recipients of the African Canadian Achievement Award of Excellence in Toronto – the first mother-son awardees in the same year in the 31-year history of the awards presentation. 

She received the excellence in science award and he received the youth achievement award.

The four new appointees were recommended by the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments and chosen using the process open to all Canadians. 

Since the process has been in place, the proportion of women in the Senate has increased from 37 per cent to 47 per cent, and the number of senators who identify as Indigenous has more than doubled. With these appointments, all Senate vacancies have now been filled.

 The Senate now has a full complement of 105 Senators – the first time in eight years. There have been 49 appointments to the Senate made on the advice of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Under the Canadian Constitution, the Governor General appoints individuals to the Senate. By convention, Senators are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Once appointed by the Governor General and summoned to the Senate, the new senators join their peers to examine and revise legislation, investigate national issues, and represent regional, provincial, and minority interests – important functions in a modern democracy.

[This story was published in the North American Weekly Gleaner, Dec. 20-26, 2018.]