mccoy was appointed to the senate by governor general adrienne clarkson, on the recommendation of prime minister paul martin, on march 24, 2005. she sits in the upper house representing alberta as a member of the canadian senators group. unless she resigns, mccoy will continue to sit in the senate until march 7, 2021. she currently sits on the senate committee for rules, procedures and the rights of parliament, and previously, on the energy, environment and natural resources committee.