June 13, 2001
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today that Her Excellency the Governor General has agreed to summon Laurier L. LaPierre of Ontario, Viola Léger of New Brunswick, Mobina Jaffer of British Columbia, and Jean Lapointe of Quebec to the Senate.

The appointments of Ms. Jaffer and Ms. Léger bring to 28 the number of women that the Prime Minister has named to the Senate since 1993 - the most to be appointed by any Prime Minister in Canadian history. The number of women in the Senate has risen from 16 at the time the government took office to 35 as of these appointments.

The appointments are effective immediately. Biographies are attached.

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PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

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Laurier L. LaPierre, O.C.

Laurier LaPierre is widely-known and respected across Canada for his extraordinary achievements as an author, journalist, commentator, and raconteur.

Mr. LaPierre holds a B.A., M.A., and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. From 1959-78, he served on the faculties of the University of Western Ontario, Loyola College and McGill University. In 1993-94, he was the Max Bell Visiting Professor of Journalism at the University of Regina.

He earned national acclaim for his work with the CBC between 1962 and 1978 as host and writer for such programs as This Hour Has Seven Days, Inquiry and Midnight. Over the years, he has also been a much sought-after host and commentator on television and radio. Up to the time of this appointment he was Chair of Telefilm Canada. He is Chair of Historica Heritage Fairs.

A foremost authority on Canadian history and public affairs, Mr. LaPierre has authored or edited numerous books and publications, including: Quebec: A Tale of Love; Sir Wilfrid Laurier and the Romance of Canada; 1759: The Battle for Canada; Québec Hier et Aujourd’hui; and, The Apprenticeship of Canada, 1876-1914. He has written articles for, among others, The Financial Post, International Review, Canadian Forum and Encyclopedia Britannica. And from 1990-91, he was Host of the Electronic Town Hall Meetings held in connection with The Citizens Forum on Canada’s Future.

Mr. LaPierre was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994. He is 71 years of age.

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Jean Lapointe, O.C.

Jean Lapointe is among the most brilliant Canadian performers of the last half century.

Before embarking on his extraordinary solo career as a singer, comedian, raconteur and actor, Jean Lapointe had great success as part of the duo Les Jérolas. For almost 20 years, Les Jérolas were the most popular entertainers in Quebec, and were the first Quebecois performers to be invited to appear on the legendary American television series The Ed Sullivan Show. They also were a hit in France at the Olympia in Paris.

Mr. Lapointe embarked on his solo career in 1975 with his first show, his first record and appearances in two films. Since then, Jean Lapointe has created and performed more than 15 new shows, recorded as many records and played numerous characters on televison and in films. Highly respected by critics and loved by the public, Jean Lapointe stands in the front rank of Francophone culture. His being named « Grand Québécois de l’année » in 1995 and the tribute he was given at the 2000 Gala des Oliviers are two notable examples.

To his busy life as an artist, Mr. Lapointe added a social and community action initiative in 1981 with the creation of the Jean Lapointe Foundation, which fights alcoholism and other addictions in Quebec. Every year, the Foundation gives funds to the Maison Jean Lapointe as well as more than 30 other organizations that work on the rehabilitation of addicts. There are also three Jean Lapointe Centres for teenagers, which are the only facilities in Quebec that offer therapy and rehabilitation completely free of charge to addicts between the ages of 12 and 18.

In recognition of his many artistic achievements and his social commitment, Jean Lapointe was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1984. He has received the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada from the Governor General as well as two honourary doctorates from Quebec universities. He is also a Life Member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada and a member of the Stamp Advisory Committee of Canada Post.

Jean Lapointe was born in 1935.

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An award winning actress, Viola Léger has been one of the brightest stars in the firmament of Acadian arts and culture.

Ms. Léger holds a B.A. and a B.Ed. from the University of Moncton, and an M.F.A. (Theater Education) from Boston University.

After commencing a career as a drama teacher in New Brunswick, Ms. Léger went to Paris to study theatre and drama with the renowned Jacques Lecoq. In 1971, she began a long and outstanding career in acting as the lead in Antonine Maillet‘s La Sagouine, a role she has performed over 1,500 times across Canada, abroad and on television. Over the years, she has acted in a great number of memorable works by writers such as Antonine Maillet, Michel Tremblay, Michel Garneau, Jean Daigle, Tennessee Williams, Garcia de Lorca, and Anne Legault. She has also appeared in films and on television, notably in the Bouscotte series.

In 1985, Ms. Léger founded La Compagnie Viola Léger Inc., which stands as a sign of her attachment to her Acadian roots.

Her singular talent has earned her numerous honourary doctorates and many awards, including: the Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Pléiade (1978); the Dora Mavor Moore Award (1981); the Médaille du Conseil de la vie française en Amérique (1987); the Chevalier de l'Ordre français des Arts et des Lettres (1991); and the Masque de l'interprétation féminine de l'Academie québécoise du théâtre. In 1989, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Viola Léger was born in 1930.

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An accomplished lawyer, Mobina Jaffer is also well known in British Columbia for her extensive record of community service.

Ms. Jaffer earned an LL.B from London University in London England in 1972. She has also completed the Executive Development Program at Simon Fraser University.

Since 1978, Ms. Jaffer has been a practising Barrister and Solicitor in British Columbia with the Honourable Thomas A Dohm, Q.C. in the firm Dohm, Jaffer &Jeraj. Since 1997, she has been Vice Chair of the Canadian Membership Committee for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Since 1993, she has been a Member of the Board of Governors of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia. Since 1994, she has been working with the Immigration and Refugee Board on gender and race issues. In 1994-95, she was a Member of the Canadian Bar Association Multicultural Committee. From 1992-96 she was Member of the Law Society Multicultural Committee. She was made a Queen’s Counsel in February of 1998.

Apart from her professional achievements, Ms. Jaffer has also given freely of her time to numerous philanthropic and voluntary associations including serving as: President of the YWCA of Canada; a Member of the Aga Khan National Conciliation and Arbitration Board; a Member of Third World Development; Founding President of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of British Columbia and Yukon; a Member of the Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women; and, a Member of the Hastings Institute.

In 1991, Ms. Jaffer won the Dr. William Black Award of the Vancouver Multicultural Society. In 1992, she was awarded a Canada 125 Medal for her work on equality issues. In 1993, she won a YWCA Women of Distinction Award and the Justice Achievement Award from the Law Courts Education Society of British Columbia. In 1995, the Trial Lawyers of British Columbia recognized her outstanding service to the legal profession. In February of 2001 she won the Influential Women in Business Award of the Women Entrepreneurs of Canada.

Ms. Jaffer is married with two children. She is 51 years of age.