Grant Mitchell (politician)

The Honourable
Grant Mitchell
Canadian Senator for Edmonton
Assumed office
March 24, 2005
Nominated by Paul Martin
Appointed by Adrienne Clarkson
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta
In office
November 12, 1994 – April 17, 1998
Preceded by Laurence Decore
Succeeded by Howard Sapers (acting)
Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
In office
1994–1998
Preceded by Bettie Hewes (interim)
Succeeded by Nancy MacBeth
MLA for Edmonton Meadowlark
In office
1986–1993
MLA for Edmonton McClung
In office
1993–1998
Personal details
Born (1951-07-19) July 19, 1951
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political party Alberta Liberal Party,
Liberal Party of Canada (2005-2016),
Non-affiliated (2016-present)
Alma mater Queen’s University, University of Alberta
Occupation Businessman, financial analyst, lecturer

Grant Mitchell (born July 19, 1951) is a Canadian politician and businessman. Formerly a leader of the Alberta Liberal Party, he is currently a member of the Canadian Senate

Early life

He received a B.A. degree from the University of Alberta and an M.A. degree from Queen's University. From 1976 to 1979, he worked as a public servant with the Government of Alberta. From 1979 to 1986, he worked in the financial sector as an executive with Edmonton's Principal Group.

Political career

Mitchell was first elected to the Alberta legislature as the Liberal MLA for Edmonton Meadowlark in 1986. Following his re-election in 1989, he was re-elected in 1993 and 1997 in the new riding of Edmonton McClung.

After placing second in the 1988 Liberal leadership contest to Edmonton mayor Laurence Decore, he became leader of the party and opposition leader in Alberta in 1994 and served until 1998, when he left provincial politics. He was succeeded as Liberal leader by Nancy MacBeth.

Following his leave from politics, Mitchell joined CIBC Wood Gundy as an investment advisor. He has also served on the boards of the Canadian Commercial Corporation,the Edmonton ITU World Cup Triathlon and the Edmonton Police Foundation.

On March 24, 2005, he was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, on the advice of Prime Minister Paul Martin, where he represents Edmonton for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Mitchell has served on three Senate committees: National Finance; Legal and Constitutional Affairs; and Agriculture and Forestry. He currently sits on the Senate committee for Human Rights and is deputy chair of the Senate Committee for Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.

On January 29, 2014, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau announced all Liberal Senators, including Mitchell, were removed from the Liberal caucus, and would continue sitting as Independents.[1] According to Senate Opposition leader James Cowan, the Senators will still refer to themselves as Liberals even if they are no longer members of the parliamentary Liberal caucus.[2]

On May 2, 2016, he left the Senate Liberal Caucus to sit as an Independent;[3] the next day he was appointed Whip by Government Representative in the Senate Peter Harder, as such Mitchell acts as a liaison between the government and Senators and tries to secure votes for government legislation.[4]

Grant Mitchell is married to Teresa Mitchell (née Flood), an Edmonton lawyer. They have three sons: Lucas, Liam, Grady.

References

  1. ↑ "Justin Trudeau removes senators from Liberal caucus". 29 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Trudeau's expulsion catches Liberal senators by surprise". Globe and Mail. January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trudeaus-representative-in-senate-to-name-deputy-whip/article29829995/
  4. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/05/04/liberal-senate-positions-peter-harder-liaison_n_9837088.html
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