Appointed by Pierre Trudeau Role Canadian Senator Preceded by Jean Marchand Education University of Ottawa | Political party Liberal Party Liberal Party of Canada Name Pierre Bane Succeeded by Jean-Luc Joncas | |
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Preceded by District was created in 1966 Preceded by District was created in 1976 Born August 2, 1938 (age 85)
Haifa, British Mandate for Palestine ( 1938-08-02 ) Previous office Minister of Regional Economic Expansion (1980–1982) Office Canadian Senator since 1984 Cabinet Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard | ||
Senator Mobina Jaffer - Tribute - The Late Honourable Pierre De Bané, P.C.
Pierre De Bané, PC, QC, LL.L, BA, DOC.SC.ADM. (Hon) (born August 2, 1938) is a retired Canadian senator. He was the first person of Arab descent to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons in Matane and next Matapédia—Matane, and is a former member of the Canadian Cabinet.
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Early life and education
De Bané was born in Haifa, Palestine, to Lebanese parents. The family immigrated to Canada in 1947 to escape the looming war, and settled in Quebec. De Bané studied at Trois-Rivières Seminary, Collège St-Alexandre, University of Quebec and from law at Laval University.
Political career
He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1968 general election, and served as a Member of Parliament for sixteen years.
In 1978, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed De Bané to the Canadian Cabinet as Minister of Supply and Services. He joined the opposition bench when the Liberals lost the 1979 election, but was reappointed to Cabinet as Minister of Regional Economic Expansion when the Liberals returned to power in 1980 election.
In 1982, De Bané became Minister of State for External Relations and, eight months later, he became Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. De Bané was named to the Senate by Trudeau days before he retired as Prime Minister.
De Bané was active on numerous Senate committees, particularly those dealing with fisheries, foreign affairs, and legal affairs and has also been active in public life on the issue of Palestinian refugees.
He retired from the Senate upon turning 75 on August 2, 2013.