Prime Minister Announces New Ministry : Biographical notes

Leader of the Government in the Senate

Born in Nova Scotia, B. Alasdair Graham has served as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate since 1995. Summoned to the Senate in 1972, he also served as Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology and the Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration.

Mr. Graham was the President of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1975 to 1980 and has had extensive experience in parliamentary observer delegations for elections in many countries. He also served as Special Assistant to the Minister of Labour, as Executive Assistant to the Minister of National Health and Welfare and worked as a teacher, journalist and corporate executive. Mr. Graham has a Bachelor of Arts degree and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Francis Xavier University. He and his wife have ten children.

THE HONOURABLE LYLE VANCLIEF

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Constituency: Prince Edward-Hastings (Ontario)

An operator and manager of a family owned farm, Lyle Vanclief was first elected to Parliament in 1988 and was re-elected in 1993. From 1993 to 1996, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and played a key role in defining the government's response to changes in international agricultural trade rules. He also served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. While in Opposition, he served as co-critic for Agriculture as well as co-critic for Public Works.

Mr. Vanclief was born and raised in Prince Edward County and holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph. He and his wife have two children.

THE HONOURABLE HERB DHALIWAL

Minister of National Revenue

Constituency: Vancouver South-Burnaby (British Columbia)

Herb Dhaliwal was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993 and served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans from 1993 to 1996. He participated in the government's defence of straddling fish stocks against foreign overfishing and contributed to the government's efforts to ensure the sustainability of Canadian fisheries. Mr. Dhaliwal also served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committees for Fisheries and Health and has been the chair of both the British Columbia and Northern and Western Caucuses.

Mr. Dhaliwal obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia. Outside of politics, he has been a businessman, specializing in transportation, maintenance and real estate development. His community service activities include working with the United Way and the India Cultural Centre of Canada, which he founded. He and his wife have three children.

THE HONOURABLE ANDY SCOTT

Solicitor General of Canada

Constituency: Fredericton (New Brunswick)

Andy Scott was first elected to Parliament in 1993. He has served as Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Persons with Disabilities and as a member of the Standing Committees on Health and on Human Resources Development.

Prior to 1993, Mr. Scott served in the New Brunswick Government as Assistant Deputy Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Policy Advisor to the Premier. He has been involved extensively in community and provincial affairs on a wide range of issues including literacy and health. He has served on the Board of the Canadian Rehabilitation Council for the Disabled and as co-chair for the Theatre New Brunswick Fundraising Campaign, and worked with the United Way and Transition House. Mr. Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Brunswick. He and his wife have two children.

Secretary of State (Parks)

Constituency: Parry Sound-Muskoka (Ontario)

Andrew Mitchell was first elected to Parliament in 1993. Mr. Mitchell's background in banking and his understanding of the economic issues of concern to the citizens of his riding have served him well in his work as Chair of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Vice-Chair of the Industry Committee and member of the Finance Committee. He also chaired Northern Ontario Caucus and the Government Caucus Task Force on Access to Capital by Small Business.

Prior to his election in 1993, Mr. Mitchell spent 20 years with the Bank of Nova Scotia in positions of increasing responsibility. He has been involved with numerous business associations, serving as President of the Chambers of Commerce of Northeastern Ontario, Elliot Lake and Gravenhurst. Born in 1953 in Montreal, he and his wife, Danielle, have three children.

THE HONOURABLE RONALD DUHAMEL

Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development) (Western Economic Diversification)

Constituency: Saint Boniface (Manitoba)

Ron Duhamel was first elected to the House of Commons in 1988 and re-elected in 1993. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services from 1993 to 1994, and as Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board from 1994 to 1996. He chaired the Prime Minister's Task Force on 2030: Policy for an Aging Population, and was a member of the Working Group on Labour Market Training and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance. In Opposition, he was critic for Education and Literacy and for Secretary of State, and was associate critic for Official Languages and for Federal-Provincial Relations.

Mr. Duhamel held senior posts in the Public Service in Manitoba including Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister of Education. He also worked as a teacher, principal, educational administrator and professor, and is a published author. Mr. Duhamel received a Bachelor of Arts from Lakehead University and a Master's degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He and his wife have three daughters.

THE HONOURABLE DAVID KILGOUR

Secretary of State (Latin American and Africa)

Constituency: Edmonton Southeast (Alberta)

David Kilgour has served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chair of the Committee as a Whole House since 1994. A Member of Parliament since 1979, he joined the Liberal Caucus in 1991 and served as Energy critic. In previous Parliaments, he had served in four Parliamentary Secretary positions -- to the Government House Leader, to the Minister of External Relations, to the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and to the Minister of Transport.

Mr. Kilgour's background is in law. He worked as a city prosecutor, a Crown attorney, and as senior advisory counsel to the Department of Justice. He was also a senior agent of the Alberta Attorney General and a constitutional advisor to the Alberta government. Mr. Kilgour has a law degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba. Mr. Kilgour is a director of Ottawa's Mission for homeless men, has authored three books, and has been a recipient of B'nai Brith Canada's Human Rights Award and a Governor General's Medal. He and his wife have four children.

Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

Constituency: Willowdale (Ontario)

An accomplished lawyer, teacher, businessperson and Parliamentarian, Jim Peterson was first elected to the House of Commons in 1980. In previous Parliaments, Mr. Peterson served in three Parliamentary Secretary positions and had served on a number of Standing Committees of the House of Commons. In Opposition, he served as critic for Industry and for Treasury Board. Since 1993, Mr. Peterson has been Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance. In this senior position, he has played a key role in shaping government economic policy.

Mr. Peterson has received a B.A. and an LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario, an LL.M. from Columbia University and a D.C.L. from McGill University. Mr. Peterson has been a noted tax lawyer and teacher, specializing in international tax and business law, and a consultant to the United Nations on international development. From 1984-1987, he was President of Cambridge Acceptance Corporation. Born in Ottawa in 1941, Mr. Peterson and his wife, Heather, reside in Toronto.