Paul “PJ” Prosper

Senator for Nova Scotia

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OPINION - Candace Larsen: The future of Canada depends on Indigenous leadership – May 28th, 2025 – On May 12, CSG Senator Paul Prosper and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak delivered a message Canadians can’t afford to ignore: if this country wants to remain strong… ... Read More

First Nations call on Carney to deliver on clean water and housing in first 100 days – May 14th, 2025 – Prime Minister Mark Carney's government faces its first major test on Indigenous infrastructure when Parliament resumes - First Nations leaders are demanding reintroduction of stalled water legislation and new investments in community-led housing within the first 100 days ... Read More

First Nations Leaders Urge Carney Government to Pass Drinking Water Bill and Act on Key Indigenous Priorities Within 100 Days – May 13th, 2025 – First Nations leaders are calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s new government to move swiftly on key Indigenous priorities, including the passage of long-promised drinking water legislation, within the first 100 days of Parliament’s return. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 13th, 2025 – A group of indigenous leaders held press conference on Monday, laying out their priorities for the first 100 days of the new Liberal government ... Read More

AFN chief calls for speedy return of clean water legislation – May 12th, 2025 – Parliamentarians will be "playing games with First Nations children's lives" if they fail to quickly introduce and pass legislation to ensure access to clean drinking water, the Assembly of First Nations national chief said Monday ... Read More

First Nations leaders rebuke Alberta premier over talk of separation referendum – May 12th, 2025 – A Mi’kmaq senator says Alberta Premier Danielle Smith must first recognize inherent First Nations rights before moving any further on a referendum on provincial separation from the rest of Canada. ... Read More

First Nations leaders want drinking water bill within 100 days of Parliament's return – May 12th, 2025 – First Nations leaders are urging Prime Minister Mark Carney to tackle a number key priorities in the first 100 days of Canada's new Parliament. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 12th, 2025 – Canadian Senator Paul Prosper will deliver a list of First Nations' priorities he hopes will be addressed by the new Liberal government. ... Read More

Critical Mention – May 12th, 2025 – Senator Paul Prosper was asked by reporters today what he would like to see in the new Liberal cabinet sworn in tomorrow. ... Read More

45th Parliament: Sen. Prosper and First Nations Leaders Outline Priorities – May 12th, 2025 – Nova Scotia Senator Paul Prosper (Canadian Senators Group) holds a news conference in Ottawa along with a number of First Nations chiefs and leaders joining him in person and virtually ... Read More

‘Pleased and honoured’: Eskasoni's Tuma Young recipient of King Charles III Coronation Medal to recognize lifetime achievements – March 27th, 2025 – Eskasoni’s Tuma Young was one of several Mi’kmaq individuals celebrated and honoured at the recent King Charles III coronation medal ceremony in Membertou ... Read More

Mi’kmaw community members chosen for independent review of DFO incident that left fish harvesters stranded – March 18th, 2025 – Three members of the Mi’kmaw community will be part of an independent review of a incident where DFO officers left two fish harvesters stranded without their phones or shoes, APTN News has learned ... Read More

Support Canada by buying into thriving Indigenous economy: Senator Prosper – March 4th, 2025 – The looming spectre of a trade war with the United States has unlocked a new level of patriotism among many Canadians, and a desire to support Canadian businesses ... Read More

Nova Scotia senator wants to help Nunavut as Senate vacancy lingers – November 18th, 2024 – While Nunavut’s sole Senate seat remains vacant, a Nova Scotia senator hopes to help Nunavummiut in the upper chamber on issues such as infrastructure and national defence ... Read More

‘A brighter future’: Voices of Youth Indigenous Leaders 2024 participants testify at Senate committee – November 1st, 2024 – Reanna Merasty (McKay) is working to build more inclusive spaces — literally from the ground up. ... Read More

Mi’kmaw mother says she may lose support for children under Jordan’s Principle – November 1st, 2024 – A Mi’kmaw mother living in Nova Scotia says she may lose health supports for her children under the Jordan’s Principle program. ... Read More

Mi’kmaw Sen. Paul Prosper releases ‘listening tour’ report – October 11th, 2024 – Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaw senator representing Nova Scotia, has released a report of an eight-month “listening tour” throughout Mi’kma’ki. ... Read More

Senators share messages for Indigenous youth on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 27th, 2024 – September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a time to honour Indian Residential School Survivors and the memories of those children who never returned home. ... Read More

Surprise letter from Mi'kmaw chiefs derails N.S. minister's attempt to fast-track federal bill – June 13th, 2024 – Nova Scotia's plea to speed up passage of federal legislation impacting offshore wind projects suffered a blow Thursday when a Senate committee said it had received a letter from Mi'kmaw chiefs raising concerns about how quickly the bill is moving toward becoming law. ... Read More

Parliamentary committee recommends reopening baby eel fishery on East Coast – May 24th, 2024 – The Parliamentary Fisheries and Oceans committee says the baby eel, or elver, fishery on the East Coast be reopened and a “crisis unit” set up to deal with any violence that follows. The committee issued its recommendations in a five-point report on Thursday that concluded, “banning legal fishing does not stop poaching.” ... Read More

Senator PJ Prosper Visits Listuguj – April 29th, 2024 – Earlier this month, Listuguj received a visit from Senator Paul J (PJ) Prosper. The visit was facilitated by the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Secretariat (MMS) and consisted of a meeting with MMS and the Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government’s (LMG) leadership. The day ended with a tour of the community. ... Read More

Liberal MP, senator call for public investigation into federal officers who stranded Mi’kmaw fishers – April 17th, 2024 – Liberal MP Jaime Battiste says an outside investigation into an incident where federal fisheries officers stranded two Mi’kmaw fishers at a gas station without their phones or shoes ... Read More

Senator Prosper tours Mi’kma’ki, embarks on a “listening tour” to help focus work in the Senate – March 25th, 2024 – Senator Paul “PJ” Prosper, a proud Mi’kmaq Senator, is embarking on a tour of the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people known collectively as Mi’kma’ki. Over the course of 4 weeks, spread out over Senate non-sitting weeks ... Read More

Model Senate 2024: Record number of students take the reins in the Red Chamber – March 25th, 2024 – Model Senate reached new heights in 2024, after approximately 100 post-secondary students representing 10 provinces and one territory — a new record — filled the seats in Canada’s Upper Chamber. ... Read More

Nova Scotia AFN Regional Chief Paul Prosper appointed to Senate – July 7th, 2023 – The regional chief who fronted the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) executive committee during the ousting of its national chief last week has landed a Senate appointment ... Read More

Mi’kmaw lawyer Paul Prosper appointed as senator for Nova Scotia – July 7th, 2023 – Paul Prosper, a Mi’kmaw lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous legal issues, has been appointed as an independent senator for Nova Scotia ... Read More

Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland appointed to Senate seats – July 7th, 2023 – Two Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been appointed to the Senate. Paul Prosper, the former chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation and a former Assembly of First Nations (AFN) regional chief, will represent Nova Scotia ... Read More

Former Paqtnkek Chief Paul Prosper Appointed to the Senate of Canada – July 7th, 2023 – Former Paqtnkek Chief Paul Prosper is headed to the Senate of Canada. Prosper, is one of two new independent senators appointed to the Upper Chamber by Governor General Mary Simon, announced Thursday by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ... Read More

Nova Scotia Regional Chief Who Spoke Out Against ex-National Chief, and Mi’kmaq Lawyer Appointed to Canada’s Senate – July 7th, 2023 – An Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief who was outspoken in his disapproval of ex-National Chief RoseAnne Archibald, is now a Senator ... Read More

Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia, Newfoundland appointed to Senate seats – July 6th, 2023 – Two Mi’kmaq lawyers from Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have been appointed to the Senate ... Read More

Public statements and press releases of 2024.

Statement on the Maltreatment of Mi’kmaq by DFO Officers

Statement on the Maltreatment of Mi’kmaq by DFO Officers

“Three weeks ago, two young Mi’kmaq fishers were detained by DFO officers, their phones and shoes
confiscated. They were made to walk some distance in the dark, with only shirts wrapped around their
feet to protect them from the elements. I drew attention to this inhumane treatment during Question
Period in the Senate on April 9, 2024.

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Public statements and press releases of 2025.

Senator PJ Prosper holds first of several King Charles III Coronation Medal Ceremony

Senator PJ Prosper holds first of several King Charles III Coronation Medal Ceremony

Membertou, NS – Sen. Paul “PJ” Prosper held the first of several events his office has organized to award the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The medal was commissioned to commemorate the outstanding contributions of Canadians to their communities and country.

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Statement Congratulating MP Jaime Battiste

Statement Congratulating MP Jaime Battiste

Paqtnkek, NS – “I would like to congratulate MP Jaime Battiste on securing a third term in the latest federal election. MP Battiste is a proud Mi’kmaw from Eskasoni First Nation, NS; he is the first and only Mi’kmaw Member of Parliament since his election in 2015.

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Sen. Prosper Announces Winners of First Annual Art Competition

Sen. Prosper Announces Winners of First Annual Art Competition

Paqtnkek, NS – Sen. PJ Prosper held the first annual art competition that saw entrants from across Mi’kma’ki participate. The winner of the junior category (Grades K to 7) received $100 and will be featured on the Senator’s Christmas card

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Senator Prosper brings forward First Nations Priorities for the first 100 days of Parliament

Senator Prosper brings forward First Nations Priorities for the first 100 days of Parliament

“’Canada Strong’ cannot more forward without First Nations people”, is the key message behind Sen. PJ Prosper’s priority list for the first 100 days of Parliament. Sen. Prosper was joined by National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, Chief Leroy Denny, Chief Gerry Toney and members of various First Nations organizations to discuss their shared vision for progress

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Senators strengthen Black and Indigenous ties at historic swearing-in ceremony

Senators strengthen Black and Indigenous ties at historic swearing-in ceremony

As Senator Tony Ince stepped forward to recite the solemn affirmation on May 26, 2025, Senator Paul (PJ) Prosper stood by his side, marking a first in the history of the Senate of Canada: the sponsorship of a Black senator by an Indigenous colleague.

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“Buy Indigenous” is “Buy Canada”

February 13, 2025, The Hill Times

The looming spectre of a trade war with the United States has unlocked a new level of patriotism among many Canadians, and a desire to support Canadian businesses. There have also been calls to insulate the Canadian economy by diversifying our trade portfolio and breaking down interprovincial trade barriers. But there is yet another source of underused economic potential: Indigenous-owned businesses… Read the full piece here.

Read the version published on the Senate website without the paywall here.

SFX Mulroney Institute’s Sober Second Thinkers Speakers Series

February 24, 2025

The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government Sober Second Thinkers Speakers Series Presents: Balancing the Senate – Framing and Fostering an L’nu Worldview, featuring The Honourable Paul Prosper.

Senator Prosper’s talk focused on his journey to help reconcile Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives in the Senate and leveraging his position to advance Mi’kmaq issues and priorities.

Watch it here.

Paul Prosper – Holiday Greetings

Christmas, 2024

At various times of the year, senators offer greetings to Canadians.

Hear their messages to citizens.

Breaking Ice: Senator Paul Prosper – Humble Roots, Becoming a Senator & Visiting Norman Wells

November 5, 2024

It was an honour to have the chance to sit down with Senator Prosper yesterday November 4th. Paul is a Canadian Senator from Nova Scotia, he was also the Former Chief of the Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. During our discussion we talked about his roots, how they shaped him into the person he is today, how he became a Senator and what brings him to Norman Wells.

Enjoy the Show.

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