Donald Oliver

Background

He is descended from slave refugees who came to Canada during the War of 1812.

Career

He taught at Dalhousie University Law School as a part-time professor for 14 years, and also taught law courses at Technical University of Nova Scotia and Saint Mary"s University. He is a Queen"s Counsel. He has also served as a federal vice-president of the party and as a director of its fundraising wing, the Personal Computer Canada Fund.

Oliver was appointed to the Senate at the recommendation of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, September 7, 1990.

Senator Oliver was also Company-chair of the Special Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct for Parliamentarians. He has worked on a number of Private Members’ Bills, including a bill to amend sections of the criminal code dealing with stalking and, more recently, a bill to address the issue of spam.

Oliver was named Speaker pro tempore of the Senate of Canada, March 4, 2010.

Achievements

• Oliver retired from the Senate November 16, 2013, when he attained age 75.

Politics

A long-time activist in the Progressive Conservative Party, Oliver served as the party"s director of legal affairs through six federal elections from 1972 to 1988.

Membership

A lawyer and developer, Oliver is a member of Nova Scotia"s Black minority. Oliver also served for years as Constitution Chairman and member of the Finance Committee for the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, and is a former Vice-President of that Party. He served as a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, and as the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committees on Transport and Communications and Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry.

Connections

Partner:

Stirling Scales