Liberal Senator Maria Chaput of Ste. Anne has announced her retirement. She has tendered her resignation with Governor General David Johnson effective March 1st.

Chaput has served for 13 years in the Senate after being appointed in 2002 by then Prime Minister Jean Chretien. She has been unavailable for an interview but in a news release she states, “It has been an honour and a privilege to sit in the Senate of Canada and to represent Manitoba, especially official language minority communities. My time and my role within this institution have been special for me and something for which I will always be grateful.”