Jim Cowan

For other people named James Cowan, see James Cowan (disambiguation).
The Honourable
Jim Cowan
Leader of the Independent Senate Liberals
In office
January 29, 2014 – June 15, 2016
Succeeded by Hon. Joseph A. Day
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
In office
November 3, 2008 – November 4, 2015
Preceded by Céline Hervieux-Payette
Succeeded by Claude Carignan
Senator for Nova Scotia
Assumed office
March 24, 2005
Nominated by Paul Martin
Appointed by Adrienne Clarkson
Personal details
Born (1942-01-22) January 22, 1942
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nationality Canadian
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Shelagh Cowan
Children Robert, David, Peter and Suzanne
Alma mater Dalhousie University
London School of Economics
Occupation lawyer
Profession politician
Committees Standing Committee of Selection, Standing Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Portfolio Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Religion United

James S. "Jim" Cowan, QC (born January 22, 1942) is a Canadian lawyer and senator from Nova Scotia and is leader of the Independent Liberal caucus. A lawyer, Cowan has been a partner at the legal firm of Stewart McKelvey since 1967.

Education

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Bachelor of Law degree from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Laws degree in 1966 from the London School of Economics.

Nova Scotia politics

In November 1985, Cowan announced he would seek the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party,[1] but was defeated by Vince MacLean at the February 1986 leadership convention.[2]

Senate

He was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Paul Martin on March 24, 2005 as a Liberal Party of Canada Senator. In 2008, he was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada

In 2012, it was reported that Cowan and other Senate leaders allowed Senator Joyce Fairbairn to continue voting on legislative matters for four months after she was declared legally incompetent due to dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease.[3]

Leader of the Independent Senate Liberal Caucus

On January 29, 2014, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau announced all Liberal Senators, including Cowan, were removed from the Liberal caucus, and would continue sitting as Independents.[4] According to Cowan, the Senators will still refer to themselves as Liberals even if they are no longer members of the parliamentary Liberal caucus.[5] Liberal senators reaffirmed Cowan as their leader in 2014 through internal elections.[6]

When the Liberal Party formed government following the 2015 federal election, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not appoint Senator Cowan as Government Senate Leader. The position was replaced with the Representatie of the Government in the Senate and assigned to independent Senator Peter Harder leaving Cowan as leader of the Independent Liberal caucus.[7]

Cowan is due to retire from the Senate upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75 on January 22, 2017.

Family

Samuel Rettie is Cowan's great-great uncle.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Halifax lawyer seeking N.S. Liberal leadership". The Globe and Mail, November 2, 1985.
  2. ↑ "New N.S. Liberal leader expects to get ammunition from Ottawa". The Globe and Mail, February 24, 1986.
  3. ↑ “Alberta senator allowed to vote four months after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s,” Global News, August 27, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-removes-senators-from-liberal-caucus-1.2515273
  5. ↑ "Trudeau's expulsion catches Liberal senators by surprise". Globe and Mail. January 29, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ Senators reaffirm Sen. Cowan as leader of Liberal Senate caucus, to hold formal Senate elections in future, Hill Times; “Senate Liberals to elect new leader and new caucus executive in next session of Parliament,” Hill Times, June 29, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Justin Trudeau names seven new senators". The Toronto Star, March 18, 2016.
  8. ↑ Cowan, Mrs. Gordon (1966–1967), Notes on the Rettie family of Truro, Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University Archives, File MS-2-173, SF Box 14, Folder 7, retrieved September 14, 2013
Political offices
Preceded by
Céline Hervieux-Payette		 Leader of the Opposition in the Senate of Canada
2008 - 2015 		Succeeded by
Claude Carignan
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