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The Honourable Leo Housakos, 2015

The Senate commissions a portrait of every Speaker in recognition of the procedural and protocol importance of that role — a tradition that predates Confederation.

The subject of this portrait, the Honourable Leo Housakos, was appointed to the Senate in 2008 and served as Speaker in 2015. As Speaker and then chair of the Senate’s Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, Senator Housakos was at the forefront of the institution’s recent modernization. 

Senator Housakos is a respected community leader and former businessman from Montréal. He has been involved in public service from a young age and has been politically engaged at all levels of government. 

He is a sitting senator who is known for his strong views on foreign policy and defence of human rights and rule of law.

The Speaker can choose the artist for whom they would like to sit; Senator Housakos selected leading portrait artist Paul Wyse. Ontario-based, Mr. Wyse’s list of portraits includes musicians, authors and a former Canadian prime minister. 

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