Warren Allmand
Encyclopedia
William Warren Allmand, (born September 19, 1932) is a former Canadian
Liberal Party
Member of Parliament
and was a Cabinet
member from 1972 to 1979.
Allmand was born in Montreal
and studied civil law
at McGill University
and comparative law at the University of Paris
. He was admitted to the Quebec
bar
in 1958. In 1965, he was elected to the Parliament of Canada
. He was sworn into the Privy Council
on November 27, 1972, and has held the three Cabinet posts: Solicitor General
(November 27, 1972 - September 14, 1976), Indian Affairs and Northern Development
(September 14, 1976 - September 16, 1977), and finally Consumer and Corporate Affairs (September 16, 1977 - June 4, 1979). As Solicitor General, he tabled in 1976 the bill that abolished death penalty in Canada.
In 1995, he gained notoriety for voting against Paul Martin
's budget, as he was opposed to the fact the cuts that Martin was proposing were too drastic and that it did not cancel the Goods and Services Tax
. As a result, Jean Chrétien
removed him from his position as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice, although he remained in the Liberal caucus. He retired before the 1997 election. Mr. Allmand was also Chair of the Justice Committee when Canada's controversial gun control
legislation was reviewed by the Committee and adopted.
He also has served as the president of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
from 1997 to 2002 and the international president of Parliamentarians for Global Action
. In 2004, Allmand was elected President of the World Federalist Movement
–Canada.
In 1990, the World Federalist Movement–Canada honoured Allmand with its World Peace Award. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
for being "committed to democracy and the pursuit of justice and fundamental freedoms."
As an MP, Allmand presented three Private Members' bills to have the Citizenship Oath
revised to delete reference to the Queen.
Allmand is teaching International Human Rights
at McGill University
as a visiting scholar at the Institute of Canadian Studies.
In November 2005 Allmand was elected to the Montreal city council seat of Loyola in Western NDG
as a member of the Union Montréal
party and once again showed an independent streak by voting against his party's motion to change the name of Park Avenue to Avenue Robert Bourassa.
He did not choose to run again in the 2009 Montreal municipal election
, but his seat was retained for Union Montréal by Susan Clarke.
In 2011, Allmand endorsed the Canadian Boat to Gaza , part of the Freedom Flotilla 2 which aims to end the Israeli blockade imposed on the 1.6 million Palestinian civilians living in the Gaza Strip
.
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...
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...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and was a Cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
member from 1972 to 1979.
Allmand was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and studied civil law
Civil law (common law)
Civil law, as opposed to criminal law, is the branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, in which compensation may be awarded to the victim...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and comparative law at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. He was admitted to the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1958. In 1965, he was elected to the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
. He was sworn into the Privy Council
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,...
on November 27, 1972, and has held the three Cabinet posts: Solicitor General
Solicitor General of Canada
The Solicitor General of Canada was a position in the Canadian ministry from 1892 to 2005. The position was based on the Solicitor General in the British system and was originally designated as an officer to assist the Minister of Justice...
(November 27, 1972 - September 14, 1976), Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who heads two different departments...
(September 14, 1976 - September 16, 1977), and finally Consumer and Corporate Affairs (September 16, 1977 - June 4, 1979). As Solicitor General, he tabled in 1976 the bill that abolished death penalty in Canada.
In 1995, he gained notoriety for voting against Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
's budget, as he was opposed to the fact the cuts that Martin was proposing were too drastic and that it did not cancel the Goods and Services Tax
Goods and Services Tax (Canada)
The Goods and Services Tax is a multi-level value added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991, by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his finance minister Michael Wilson. The GST replaced a hidden 13.5% Manufacturers' Sales Tax ; Mulroney claimed the GST was implemented because the MST...
. As a result, Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
removed him from his position as Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice, although he remained in the Liberal caucus. He retired before the 1997 election. Mr. Allmand was also Chair of the Justice Committee when Canada's controversial gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
legislation was reviewed by the Committee and adopted.
He also has served as the president of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development
The International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development , is a non-partisan, independent Canadian institution that was established by an act of the Canadian parliament in 1988 to "encourage and support the universal values of human rights and the promotion of democratic institutions...
from 1997 to 2002 and the international president of Parliamentarians for Global Action
Parliamentarians for Global Action
Parliamentarians for Global Action is a non-profit and non-partisan international organization of more than 1,300 free elected legislators from 130 democratic countries . It was established circa 1978 as Parliamentarians for World Order engaged in a range of action-oriented initiatives that promote...
. In 2004, Allmand was elected President of the World Federalist Movement
World Federalist Movement
The World Federalist Movement is a global citizens movement with member and associate organizations around the world. The WFM International Secretariat is based in New York City across from the United Nations headquarters...
–Canada.
In 1990, the World Federalist Movement–Canada honoured Allmand with its World Peace Award. In 2000, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for being "committed to democracy and the pursuit of justice and fundamental freedoms."
As an MP, Allmand presented three Private Members' bills to have the Citizenship Oath
Oath of citizenship (Canada)
The Oath of Citizenship, or Citizenship Oath , is a statement recited and signed by candidates who wish to become citizens of Canada...
revised to delete reference to the Queen.
Allmand is teaching International Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
as a visiting scholar at the Institute of Canadian Studies.
In November 2005 Allmand was elected to the Montreal city council seat of Loyola in Western NDG
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce
Notre-Dame-de-Grâce , also nicknamed NDG, is a residential neighbourhood of Montreal located in the city's west-end. It is one of five districts of the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce...
as a member of the Union Montréal
Union Montreal
Union Montreal is a municipal political party in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It currently governs Montreal's city government.-Origins:It was established as the Montreal Island Citizens Union in the aftermath of the province-wide municipal merger of 2001 and not long before the municipal election...
party and once again showed an independent streak by voting against his party's motion to change the name of Park Avenue to Avenue Robert Bourassa.
He did not choose to run again in the 2009 Montreal municipal election
Montreal municipal election, 2009
The city of Montreal, Quebec, held a municipal election at the same time as numerous other municipalities in Quebec, on November 1, 2009. Voters elected the Mayor of Montreal, Montreal City Council, and the mayors and councils of each of the city's boroughs....
, but his seat was retained for Union Montréal by Susan Clarke.
In 2011, Allmand endorsed the Canadian Boat to Gaza , part of the Freedom Flotilla 2 which aims to end the Israeli blockade imposed on the 1.6 million Palestinian civilians living in the Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
.