June 25, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that Her Excellency the
Governor General has agreed to summon the Honourable David Smith of Ontario to
the Senate.
This appointment is effective immediately.
A biography is attached.
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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555
The Honourable David P. Smith, P.C., Q.C.
In addition to being a most able and respected lawyer, the Honourable David
Smith has a distinguished record of public service.
Mr. Smith earned a B.A. in Political Science from Carleton University in 1964
and an LL.B from Queen’s University in 1970. He was called to the Bar in
Ontario in 1972. During a very distinguished career, Mr. Smith has become a
foremost practitioner of municipal, administrative and regulatory law.
At the time of this appointment, Mr. Smith was Chairman and Partner of Fraser
Milner Casgrain LLP, one of Canada’s oldest and largest law firms. In 1998,
with formation of Fraser Milner, Mr. Smith was named the firm’s first Chairman.
Previously, Mr. Smith was Chairman of Fraser & Beatty.
From 1980-84 Mr. Smith sat in the House of Commons as Member of Parliament
for the riding of Don Valley East where he also served as Minister of State
(Small Business and Tourism). In 1972, he was elected to Toronto City Council.
After his re-election in 1974, he was appointed to the Executive Committee of
the City of Toronto and Metro Toronto Council. He was re-elected again in 1976
and was subsequently appointed President of Toronto City Council and Deputy
Mayor of Toronto.
Mr. Smith has lent his time to numerous voluntary and philanthropic
organizations. He has sat on the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place, as well
as on the boards of the Salvation Army, Toronto General Hospital, Mount Sinai
Hospital and George Brown College. He has served as Chairman of the Retinitis
Pigmentosa Foundation and as Vice Chairman of the O’Keefe Centre for the
Performing Arts.
Mr. Smith and his wife, Heather, have raised three children: Alexander,
Kathleen and Laura. He is 61 years of age.
