- Born
- June 18, 1970 — Regina
- Family
- Married Dave Batters in 1997. Dave died by suicide in 2009.
- Education
- Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina in 1991. Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1994.
- Career
- In private practice until 2007, Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan Minister of Justice Don Morgan from 2007 to 2012, executive director of regulatory affairs for Saskatchewan's Crown Investments Corporation from 2012 to 2013.
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada in January 2013.
- Notable
- Mental health advocate. Organized Dave Batters Memorial Golf Tournaments. Awarded the Canadian Association on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) Champion of Mental Health Award (Parliamentarian) in 2015. Received a "Difference Maker" award from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in October 2017.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before being appointed to the Senate, Denise Batters had a career as a lawyer and a registered trademark agent in Saskatchewan. She also worked in politics, serving as the Chief of Staff to Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Her public disclosures to the Senate Ethics Officer have reportedly listed various interests in publicly traded securities and investment funds.
Key Relationships & Connections
Denise Batters was appointed to the Senate in 2013 on the advice of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She is the widow of Dave Batters, who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2008. Before her appointment, she worked as Chief of Staff for Don Morgan, a long-serving cabinet minister in the Saskatchewan provincial government.
Public Controversies
In November 2021, Senator Batters was expelled from the national Conservative caucus by then-leader Erin O'Toole. The expulsion followed her launch of a public petition calling for a review of O'Toole's leadership after the 2021 federal election, which she stated was a necessary step after he reversed his position on key policies. While she was removed from the national caucus, she was allowed to remain a member of the Saskatchewan regional Conservative caucus. Following Erin O'Toole's removal as leader by a caucus vote in February 2022, the Conservative caucus voted to readmit Senator Batters, ending the high-profile internal party dispute.