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OTTAWA — As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s vision for a less-partisan Senate takes shape, independent senators are now the most likely to be lobbied by special interest groups.

Lobbyists communicated with members of the upper chamber twice as often in 2017 as in 2016, and a full six times as often as in 2015, apparently a reflection of senators’ increasing influence.

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“I think that senators are being lobbied more because we’re being more active. We’re being very proactive,” Liberal Sen. Terry Mercer, the most-lobbied senator in 2017, told the National Post.

“Although some of them might find it a little annoying that suddenly they’re getting a lot more requests, I think if they sat back and thought about it they’ll realize that it’s part of the process,” he said. “We need to understand what Canadians feel about the legislation that’s coming before us, and understand what the effects of legislation might be. So it’s important we do it.”