 From 2005 to 2009, he was vice-president of both the Conseil intermunicipal de transport des Laurentides and the Association des Conseils intermunicipaux de transport du Québec.Carignan has helped promote numerous charitable causes, sat on the boards of several social agencies in his region and created the Fondation Élite Saint-Eustache, which helps talented young people in his community.He ran for the Conservatives in the 2008 federal election in Rivière-des-Mille-Îles

Since his appointment to the Senate in 2009, Carignan has served on the following committees