After 15 years, a Saskatchewan senator has called it a career.
Pana Merchant retired from her Senate seat on March 31, 2017.
Merchant had been a sitting Senator since she was appointed by prime minister Jean Chrétien.
Her decision comes about a year before her mandatory retirement date, which was April 4, 2018.
Her departure means there are now five senators from Saskatchewan: Raynell Andreychuk, Denise Batters, Lillian Dyck, David Tkachuk and Pamela Wallin.
There are now six vacant seats on the Senate, with one in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and two in Nova Scotia.