Harper Appoints Western Business Leader Tannas to Senate

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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As highly criticized Senate scandals result in calls for the chamber’s reform, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has now appointed a Western business leader to the upper house on Monday. The founder of Western Financial Group, Scott Tannas, is an open supporter for the senate’s reform, including limited terms, and was one of three senate candidates elected during April’s provincial polls. Mr. Tannas is understandably  replacing Bert Brown, who is an appointee of 2007 set to retire soon. The appointment of Mr. Tannas has come after the appointment of Doug Black, who was also elected in 2012, and became a senator in January.

Pointing out that almost half of the senators representing Alberta were elected, Premier Alison Redford mentioned in a press statement, that “we are extremely pleased that the Prime Minister followed the wishes of Albertans and recognized these characteristics in appointing a very fine Albertan and Canadian to the Upper House.” Mr. Tannas had been previously elected under the Progressive Conservative banner. Ms. Redford added that “when Albertans chose Scott Tannas as their Senate nominee during last year’s provincial election, they chose a person with great moral character, a finely tuned business acumen and strong values.”

Mr. Tannas, who is the son of a local MLA, was raised in High River, Alta., and is a drop out from Mount Royal University, Calgary. He bought a partnership in Hi-Alta Agencies, an insurance and real estate brokerage, in 1993. Understanding the need of the business to expand, he set up Hi-Alta Capital, which was later renamed to Western Financial Group in 2002.