Anne Cools
Encyclopedia
Anne Clare Cools is a member of the Canadian Senate
. Born in Barbados
, with her appointment, she became the first Black Canadian to be appointed to Canada's upper house
. She is currently the longest-serving member of the Senate, since the retirement of Lowell Murray
on September 26, 2011.
. Attending McGill University
to study social work
in the 1960s, she became involved in radical campus politics. In 1969, she was a participant in a 10-day sit-in
at Sir George Williams University (later Concordia University), protesting alleged racism
at the school. The action ended with $2 million worth of damage to computer equipment. Although not accused of damaging property herself, Cools was sentenced to four months imprisonment for participating in the sit-in.
where she founded one of the first shelters for abused women in Canada, Women in Transition Inc., and served as its Executive Director.
as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
. She lost the Liberal nomination in a highly contested race against John Evans
for the 1978 by-election in Rosedale. She ran again in 1979, and won the nomination but was defeated in both the 1979
and 1980 elections
by Progressive Conservative
candidate David Crombie. On her second attempt, she lost by fewer than 2,000 votes.
by then Governor General
Edward Schreyer
, on the recommendation of Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
.
In the 1990s, Cools served on the Senate/House of Commons
Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access, which in December, 1998 issued its report, For the Sake of the Children
. A principal recommendation of this report was that, following a relationship breakdown, shared parenting
should be presumed to be in the best interests of the child. Her extensive work on the Committee, and its wide investigations, saw her become increasingly outspoken on the issues of fathers' rights
, divorce
and family values
. She was candid in her criticism of the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
when proposed legislation to be introduced in the House of Commons was shelved after intense lobbying by women's groups.
and Paul Martin
, and of same-sex marriage
. On June 8, 2004, she announced that she was crossing the floor
to join the Conservative Party of Canada
.
Cools was vocal in criticizing Martin after the passing of a motion of non-confidence against his government in 2005. She openly called for Martin to resign rather than dissolving Parliament, stating that the motion of non-confidence was expressing no-confidence in the Prime Minister, and not directly in the government. Rather than calling for a general election
, Cools stated that Martin should have resigned.
and for voting against the 2007 budget
. She currently sits as an Independent.
She has designated herself as representing the Senate division
of Toronto-Centre-York.
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. Born in Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
, with her appointment, she became the first Black Canadian to be appointed to Canada's upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
. She is currently the longest-serving member of the Senate, since the retirement of Lowell Murray
Lowell Murray
Lowell Murray, PC is a former Canadian senator and long-time activist with the federal Progressive Conservative Party.-Education:...
on September 26, 2011.
Early life and education
Her family immigrated to Canada in 1957 when Cools was 14 years old, and settled in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Attending McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
to study social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
in the 1960s, she became involved in radical campus politics. In 1969, she was a participant in a 10-day sit-in
Sir George Williams Computer Riot
The Sir George Williams Computer Riot was a 1969 event at Sir George Williams University in Montreal, Canada, now a part of Concordia University. It was the largest student occupation in Canadian history.- Overview :...
at Sir George Williams University (later Concordia University), protesting alleged racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
at the school. The action ended with $2 million worth of damage to computer equipment. Although not accused of damaging property herself, Cools was sentenced to four months imprisonment for participating in the sit-in.
Before politics
In 1974, Cools moved to TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
where she founded one of the first shelters for abused women in Canada, Women in Transition Inc., and served as its Executive Director.
Federal politics
She twice sought election to the Canadian House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. She lost the Liberal nomination in a highly contested race against John Evans
John Robert Evans
John Robert Evans, is a Canadian pediatrician, academic, businessperson, and civic leader.After graduating from the University of Toronto Schools, he received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1952 and was a Rhodes Scholar...
for the 1978 by-election in Rosedale. She ran again in 1979, and won the nomination but was defeated in both the 1979
Canadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
and 1980 elections
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
candidate David Crombie. On her second attempt, she lost by fewer than 2,000 votes.
Appointment to the Senate
In 1984, she was summoned to the Canadian SenateCanadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
by then Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
Edward Schreyer
Edward Schreyer
Edward Richard Schreyer , commonly known as Ed Schreyer, is a Canadian politician, diplomat, and statesman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 22nd since Canadian Confederation....
, on the recommendation of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
.
In the 1990s, Cools served on the Senate/House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access, which in December, 1998 issued its report, For the Sake of the Children
For The Sake Of The Children (Report)
For The Sake Of The Children was a report issued in December, 1998, by a Special Joint Committee of The Senate and The House of Commons of Canada, addressing issues relating to parental custody of and access to children after a relationship breakdown...
. A principal recommendation of this report was that, following a relationship breakdown, shared parenting
Shared parenting
Shared parenting refers to a collaborative arrangement in child custody or divorce determinations in which the care of the children is equal or more than substantially shared between the biological parents.- Nature and History :...
should be presumed to be in the best interests of the child. Her extensive work on the Committee, and its wide investigations, saw her become increasingly outspoken on the issues of fathers' rights
Fathers' rights
The fathers' rights movement is a movement whose members are primarily interested in issues related to family law, including child custody and child support that affect fathers and their children. Many of its members are fathers who desire to share the parenting of their children equally with their...
, divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
and family values
Family values
Family values are political and social beliefs that hold the nuclear family to be the essential ethical and moral unit of society. Familialism is the ideology that promotes the family and its values as an institution....
. She was candid in her criticism of the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
when proposed legislation to be introduced in the House of Commons was shelved after intense lobbying by women's groups.
Crossing the floor
Cools also became increasingly critical of the Liberal governments of Jean ChrétienJean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
and Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, and of same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage in Canada
On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act which provided a gender-neutral marriage definition...
. On June 8, 2004, she announced that she was crossing the floor
Crossing the floor
In politics, crossing the floor has two meanings referring to a change of allegiance in a Westminster system parliament.The term originates from the British House of Commons, which is configured with the Government and Opposition facing each other on rows of benches...
to join the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Cools was vocal in criticizing Martin after the passing of a motion of non-confidence against his government in 2005. She openly called for Martin to resign rather than dissolving Parliament, stating that the motion of non-confidence was expressing no-confidence in the Prime Minister, and not directly in the government. Rather than calling for a general election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, Cools stated that Martin should have resigned.
Independent
On June 25, 2007, she was removed from Conservative caucus for speaking out against Prime Minister Stephen HarperStephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
and for voting against the 2007 budget
2007 Canadian federal budget
The Canadian federal budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year was presented to the Canadian House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on March 19, 2007. The federal budget included $14 billion in new spending and $5.7 billion in tax cuts...
. She currently sits as an Independent.
She has designated herself as representing the Senate division
Canadian Senate divisions
Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada Canadian Senate divisions refers to two things. First, to the four regional Senate divisions of 24 senators as set out in the Constitution of Canada...
of Toronto-Centre-York.
Assault controversy
In 2005, Cools claimed to have been assaulted by fellow Senators and to have witnessed a Senator hitting a child. Canadian Senators expressed shock after the claims were picked up by the media.See also
- Lists of Canadian senators
- List of Ontario senators
- Canadian titles debateCanadian titles debateThe Canadian titles debate has been ongoing since the adoption of the Nickle Resolution in 1919. This resolution marked the earliest attempt to establish a Canadian government policy requesting the Sovereign not to grant knighthoods, baronetcies, and peerages to Canadians, and set the precedent for...