Jim Cowan

James S. Cowan, CM QC (born January 22, 1942) is a Canadian lawyer, a senator from Nova Scotia from 2008 to 2017, and was Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 2008 to 2015 and leader of the Independent Liberal caucus until June 15, 2016. A lawyer, Cowan has been a partner at the legal firm of Stewart McKelvey since 1967. He retired from the senate on January 22, 2017, having reached the mandatory retirement age for senators.

The Honourable

Jim Cowan

CM QC
Senator for Nova Scotia
In office
March 24, 2005 – January 22, 2017
Nominated byPaul Martin
Appointed byAdrienne Clarkson
Leader of the Senate Liberal Caucus
In office
January 29, 2014 – June 15, 2016
Preceded byPosition created
Succeeded byJoseph A. Day
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
In office
November 3, 2008 – November 4, 2015
Preceded byCéline Hervieux-Payette
Succeeded byClaude Carignan
Personal details
Born (1942-01-22) January 22, 1942
Halifax, Nova Scotia
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal (until 2014)
Senate Liberal
(2014-present)
Spouse(s)Shelagh Cowan
ChildrenRobert, David, Peter and Suzanne Cowan
Alma materDalhousie University
London School of Economics
Occupationlawyer
Professionpolitician
CommitteesStanding Committee of Selection, Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
PortfolioLeader of the Opposition in the Senate

Education

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Bachelor of Law degree from Dalhousie University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He received his Master of Laws degree in 1966 from the London School of Economics.

Nova Scotia politics

In November 1985, Cowan announced he would seek the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party,[1] but was defeated by Vince MacLean at the February 1986 leadership convention.[2]

Senate

He was appointed to the Senate on the advice of prime minister Paul Martin on March 24, 2005 as a Liberal Party of Canada Senator. In 2008, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada

In 2012, it was reported that Cowan and other Senate leaders allowed Senator Joyce Fairbairn to continue voting on legislative matters for four months after she was declared legally incompetent due to dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.[3]

Leader of the Independent Senate Liberal Caucus

On January 29, 2014, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau announced all Liberal Senators, including Cowan, were removed from the Liberal caucus, and would continue sitting as Independents.[4] The Senators continued to refer to themselves as the Senate Liberal Caucus even if they are no longer members of the parliamentary Liberal caucus.[5] Liberal senators reaffirmed Cowan as their leader in 2014 through internal elections.[6]

At the time that Trudeau removed Cowan and his fellow Liberal Senators from the Liberal caucus, Cowan's daughter Suzanne served as a senior advisor to Trudeau.

When the Liberal Party formed government following the 2015 federal election, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not appoint Senator Cowan as Government Senate Leader. The position was replaced with the Representative of the Government in the Senate and assigned to independent Senator Peter Harder leaving Cowan as leader of the Independent Liberal caucus.[7] Cowan stepped down as Liberal Senate Caucus leader on June 15, 2016. He retired from the Senate upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 on January 22, 2017.

Family

Samuel Rettie is Cowan's great-great uncle.[8]

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References
  1. "Halifax lawyer seeking N.S. Liberal leadership". The Globe and Mail, November 2, 1985.
  2. "New N.S. Liberal leader expects to get ammunition from Ottawa". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1986.
  3. "Alberta senator allowed to vote four months after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s," Global News, August 27, 2012.
  4. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-removes-senators-from-liberal-caucus-1.2515273
  5. "Trudeau's expulsion catches Liberal senators by surprise". Globe and Mail. January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  6. Senators reaffirm Sen. Cowan as leader of Liberal Senate caucus, to hold formal Senate elections in future, Hill Times; "Senate Liberals to elect new leader and new caucus executive in next session of Parliament," Hill Times, June 29, 2015.
  7. "Justin Trudeau names seven new senators". The Toronto Star, March 18, 2016.
  8. Cowan, Mrs. Gordon (1966–1967), Notes on the Rettie family of Truro, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University Archives, File MS-2-173, SF Box 14, Folder 7, retrieved September 14, 2013
Political offices
Preceded by
Céline Hervieux-Payette		 Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada
2008 - 2015		 Succeeded by
Claude Carignan
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