There are seven fewer vacancies in Canada’s upper chamber.

Named to the Senate are:

–Paralympian Chantal Petitclerc

–Justice Murray Sinclair, who led the Truth and Reconciliation commission

–Peter Harder, the long-time civil servant who headed Justin Trudeau’s transition team when the Liberals became the government last November

–Frances Lankin, former Ontario NDP cabinet minister

–Ratna Omidvar, executive director at Ryerson University’s Global Diversity Exchange

–Raymonde Gagne, former president of Manitoba’s Universite de Saint-Boniface

–Andre Pratte, editoral writer at La Presse

A news release from the Prime Minister’s Office describes them as ”independent” and says Harder will serve as the ”government representative” in the Senate.

Trudeau tweeted the appointments mark ”next steps” to fulfil the Liberals promise to reform the Senate and ”restore the public’s trust in that institution.”

There are still 17 vacancies which the government has said will be filled this year.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper had not appointed anyone since 2013, the year the upper chamber found itself caught up in the spending scandal.