Introduction of the Honourable Bob Rae

DR. RODNEY HADDOW, CHAIR
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

17 April 1997

As most of you know, the Honourable Bob Rae was the Premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 and was elected eight times to the federal and provincial parliaments before his retirement from politics last year. He led the NDP in Ontario from ‘82 to ’96 and served as leader of the official opposition before becoming Premier. Mr. Rae now works as a partner at the Canadian international law firm, Goodman, Philips and Vineburg. He represents a number of major clients in manufacturing, financial services and infrastructure, pursuing work overseas and in Canada.

As Premier, Mr. Rae presided over a major restructuring of the Ontario economy, during the most difficult recession since the 1930s. At the same time the NDP government made significant changes in social policy and during the 1992 constitutional debate, Mr. Rae played a leading role in building support for amendments which would strengthen Canada’s constitutional framework.

Mr. Rae has a B.A and a LLB. from University of Toronto, was a Rhodes Scholar for Ontario in 1969 and obtained a M.Phil. degree from Oxford University in 1971. He was named a member of the Order of Canada in 1984. Outside of politics and business, Mr. Rae has been active in charitable activities. He is a spokesperson for the Leukemia Research Fund, a member of the national advisory committee of the Canadian Bone Marrow Registry and a member of the International Council of the Asia Society. He serves on the Boards of Directors of TESMA International Inc., TEMBEC Inc., and the Canadian Ditchley Foundation.

Mr. Rae is the author of numerous articles and speeches on labour and employment law, public and constitutional law, changes in the modern state and the challenge of political leadership. His book, From Protest to Power, published by Penguin, was released last autumn. He’s also an adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto in the Faculties of Law, Management and Arts and Sciences. He is married to Arlene Pearly and he has three daughters. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Honourable Bob Rae.