Alasdair Graham
Encyclopedia
Alasdair Bernard Graham, PC
(born May 21, 1929 in Dominion, Nova Scotia
) is a Canadian
politician, journalist and businessman.
in the 1958 election
from Nova Scotia
, but was defeated in the attempt. In 1972, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate
by Pierre Trudeau
. Graham served as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1976 until 1980. In 1995, he became deputy government leader in the Senate, and was promoted to Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate in 1997, joining the Canadian Cabinet as Nova Scotia's sole representative. The Liberal Party
had lost all of its seats in the province in the 1997 election
. He served in Cabinet until 1999 when Chrétien replaced him with Bernard Boudreau in the hope that appointing Boudreau to the Senate would help him win a seat in the 2000 election
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(born May 21, 1929 in Dominion, Nova Scotia
Dominion, Nova Scotia
Dominion is a community in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.It is located immediately west of the larger centre of Glace Bay....
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, journalist and businessman.
Career
Graham attempted to win a seat in the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1958 election
Canadian federal election, 1958
The Canadian federal election of 1958 was the 24th general election in Canada's history. It was held to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 24th Parliament of Canada on March 31, 1958, just nine months after the 23rd election...
from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, but was defeated in the attempt. In 1972, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
. Graham served as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1976 until 1980. In 1995, he became deputy government leader in the Senate, and was promoted to Leader of the Government in the Canadian Senate in 1997, joining the Canadian Cabinet as Nova Scotia's sole representative. The Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
had lost all of its seats in the province in the 1997 election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
. He served in Cabinet until 1999 when Chrétien replaced him with Bernard Boudreau in the hope that appointing Boudreau to the Senate would help him win a seat in the 2000 election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
.