Rogersville-Kouchibouguac MLA Rose-May Poirier has been name to the Senate by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. (Government of New Brunswick)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has picked three-term Progressive Conservative MLA Rose-May Poirier for the Senate.

Poirier was named to the Senate along with four others on Friday.

Poirier was first elected to the riding of Rogersville-Kouchibouguac in 1999 during Bernard Lord's first mandate, taking what was historically a Liberal seat.

She won the seat again in 2003 and even hung on in 2006 when the PCs lost the election to Premier Shawn Graham's Liberals.

Lord appointed Poirier as minister of human resources after the 2003 election and was shuffled to the Department of Local Government in 2006.

During her time in provincial politics, Poirier was regarded as a strong constituency representative.

Poirier's departure from the legislative assembly reduces the Progressive Conservative caucus to 21 in the 55-seat legislature.

It also means there are now only six women in the legislature.

'The prime minister should make Senate reform and elected senators a major priority and never appoint another one.'—Kevin Gaudet, Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Unlike the other four senators, Poirier's appointment doesn't take effect until Feb. 28, so Premier Shawn Graham won't be forced to call a byelection before the fall provincial election, she said.

"Being in close proximity that we are to the next general election on Sept. 27, if the appointment would have been made, effectively, then a byelection would have needed to be called," Poirier said.

"I think that's an unnecessary expense for the taxpayers of New Brunswick."

The government is not required to call a byelection for a vacancy in the legislature if it is within six months of a general election.

Before entering politics, Poirier worked as an insurance representative for Assumption Life and as an executive manager for Tupperware Canada.

Poirier lives in Saint-Louis-de-Kent with her husband, Donald. She has two daughters and five grandchildren.

This is the second PC MLA that Harper has summoned to the Senate.

In December 2008, Harper named Percy Mockler, a long-term Tory MLA and former cabinet minister, for the Senate.

Taxpayers group calls for Senate reform

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded to the Friday appointments by calling for Senate reform. "Now, with control of the Senate, this is the time for the Prime Minister to stick a fork in the House of Pork. It is time to make senators elected and accountable," federal director Kevin Gaudet stated in a news release.

The latest appointments give the Conservatives effective control of the Senate with a plurality — 51 Conservatives, 49 Liberals and five Independents, he said.

"The prime minister should make Senate reform and elected senators a major priority and never appoint another one," said Gaudet. "He quickly should introduce legislation for elected senators and make it a confidence matter in the House."

The CTF has campaigned for Senate reform since it was created 20 years ago, citing concerns about lavish pay, perks and pensions being provided to unelected and unaccountable senators.

If the five latest appointees serve until age 75, the CTF estimates their pensions will be:

• Rose-May Poirier, $126,910.
• Elizabeth Marshall, $126,910.
• Pierres-Hugues Boisvenu, $79,501.
• Bob Runciman, $31,669.
• Vim Kochhar, none, because six years are required for eligibility.