Northwest Territories Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson is defending a Senate attendance record that places her in the lower ranks of her colleagues, saying time spent travelling the territory is vital to her role as the NWT’s sole representative in Ottawa.
Attendance numbers and defence
Senate data show Anderson was present for 58 per cent of sitting days from May 2025 to the present, putting her among a minority of senators with similarly low attendance. According to the information, out of more than 90 sitting senators, only nine have lower attendance rates than Anderson during that period.
In written correspondence with NNSL Media, Anderson argued that much of her work away from the chamber is directly related to parliamentary responsibilities because it involves engaging with people across the territory whose experiences should shape federal decision-making.
“This is not work outside Parliament. It is parliamentary work,”
She added that Parliament cannot craft informed policy about the North without direct input from those who live there, and that her role requires being present in the NWT to meet with a wide range of local actors.
What that work looks like
Anderson listed meetings with territorial and Indigenous governments, Elders, youth, community groups, businesses, researchers, federal officials and residents as part of her outreach. Her office emphasised that many of these commitments are planned months in advance, while specific Senate votes can arise with little notice.
- Presence in chamber: 58% of sitting days (May 2025–present)
- Comparative position: Only nine senators recorded lower attendance in that span
- Defence: Outreach across the NWT counts as parliamentary work
Local ties versus voting attendance
Anderson’s office told reporters that she considers voting attendance important, but the senator said improving her attendance would largely mean spending more time in Ottawa and less in the NWT. She wrote that while she could have improved the statistic by staying in the capital, doing so would diminish the quality of representation she provides.
Her director of parliamentary affairs, Christine Sentongo-Andersen, declined to give details about the specific meetings Anderson held in communities when asked by reporters. The senator’s letter framed the trade-off plainly: higher presence in the chamber could be achieved, but at a cost to on-the-ground engagement and the territory’s voice in federal discussions.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sitting-day attendance | 58% (May 2025–present) |
| Relative rank among senators | Only nine have lower attendance |
For residents of the Northwest Territories, the exchange highlights a broader question about representation: whether a senator’s primary duty is to be physically present for votes in Ottawa or to gather firsthand knowledge and voices from the communities they represent. Anderson makes the case the two are not mutually exclusive but that, for her, the balance should favour staying connected to the NWT.
