March 26, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that Her Excellency the Governor General has agreed to summon the Honourable George Baker of Newfoundland and Labrador and Raymond Lavigne of Quebec to the Senate.

These appointments are effective immediately.

Biographies are attached.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

The Honourable George Baker

The Honourable George Baker, former MP for the riding of Gander – Grand Falls (Newfoundland and Labrador) was first elected to the House of Commons in 1974, and was re-elected at every subsequent federal election.

During his distinguished parliamentary career, he has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport from 1975 to 1976, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Environment from 1975 to 1976, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue in 1976. In Opposition, he served as Party Critic for Atlantic Development in 1989, and Associate Party Critic for the Treasury Board in 1990.

From 1999 to 2000, George Baker served as Minister of Veterans Affairs. In this portfolio, he successfully negotiated a $50 million compensation package for veterans of Canada’s merchant navy – an issue that was very close to his heart.

Since 1993, he has also served on the House Standing Committees on Finance, Trade and Economic Affairs, Fisheries and Oceans, Miscellaneous Estimates, Transport, Government Operations, and Procedure and House Affairs.

Mr. Baker studied political science and economics at Memorial University of Newfoundland and at the University of New Brunswick. He was formerly Chief Clerk of the Newfoundland House of Assembly, serving concurrently, from 1967 to 1968, as Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. George Baker also worked as a contract producer for CBC, for music drama and arts in Newfoundland.

George Baker was born in 1942. He has four children.

Raymond Lavigne

Raymond Lavigne, former MP for the riding of Verdun – Saint-Henri – Saint-Paul – Pointe Saint-Charles (Quebec), was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993, and was re-elected in 1997 and 2000.

A successful businessman, Raymond Lavigne started his career in the factories of his neighbourhood. After studying business administration and sales at the Université de Montréal, he opened his first furniture store, "Raymond Lavigne Meubles". Shortly after, he owned two stores which employed a total of 28 people.

On the strength of his many years of involvement with community and charitable organizations and his accomplishments as a businessman, Raymond Lavigne entered federal politics as a candidate in the riding of Verdun – Saint-Henri – Saint-Paul – Pointe Saint-Charles and won a seat in the 1993 general election. An energetic and dedicated MP, he has been an effective and persuasive voice for his constituents within caucus and in public.

Raymond Lavigne was born in 1945. He and his wife, Carmen Robichaud, have one child, Tania.