Diane Francis
Encyclopedia
Diane Francis is a Canadian journalist, author, and editor-at-large for the National Post
newspaper since 1998. She was previously the Editor of the Financial Post
from 1991 to 1998, when it was taken over by the National Post and incorporated into it. She has been a columnist with the Financial Post since 1987 and her columns are syndicated. She also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, a broadcaster, and author of nine books on Canadian socio-economic subjects.
, Illinois in 1946. She is married and has two adult children.
in 1987 and was its editor from 1991 to 1998, when it was taken over by the National Post
and incorporated into it. She has been a columnist and editor-at-large at the National Post since then; her columns are syndicated. She also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, a broadcaster, and author of nine books on Canadian socio-economic subjects.
Francis was appointed Distinguished Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University
in Toronto in October 2007, for a one-year term. She was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University
's Shorenstein Center in autumn 2005 and in 2007 had been a Media Fellow at the World Economic Forum
for over ten years.
, the CEO of ClubLink Enterprises Limited, Canada’s largest owner and operator of member golf clubs.
Her 1996 book titled Fighting for Canada was published in the French language
as Maîtres Chanteurs Chez Nous!. In it, she alleged subversive tactics and violations of human rights
by members of the Quebec sovereignty movement
during the 1995 Quebec referendum
.
, Francis wrote: "The 'inconvenient truth' overhanging the UN's Copenhagen conference is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world." She described various environmental issues related to overpopulation
, and stated that: "A planetary law, such as China's one-child policy
, is the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate currently, which is one million births every four days."
and a member of the board of directors for CARE
Canada, and as the volunteer chair for the fund-raising campaign for Ryerson University
's community health center.
Francis became a Director of Aurizon Mines Ltd., listed on the Toronto
and American Stock Exchange
s September 2007. In November 2009 she became a trustee for the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
.
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
newspaper since 1998. She was previously the Editor of the Financial Post
Financial Post
The Financial Post was an English Canadian business newspaper, which published from 1907 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was folded into the new National Post, although the name Financial Post has been retained as the banner for that paper's business section and also lives on in the Post’s...
from 1991 to 1998, when it was taken over by the National Post and incorporated into it. She has been a columnist with the Financial Post since 1987 and her columns are syndicated. She also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, a broadcaster, and author of nine books on Canadian socio-economic subjects.
Background
Francis was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois in 1946. She is married and has two adult children.
Career
Francis became a columnist with the Financial PostFinancial Post
The Financial Post was an English Canadian business newspaper, which published from 1907 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was folded into the new National Post, although the name Financial Post has been retained as the banner for that paper's business section and also lives on in the Post’s...
in 1987 and was its editor from 1991 to 1998, when it was taken over by the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
and incorporated into it. She has been a columnist and editor-at-large at the National Post since then; her columns are syndicated. She also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, a broadcaster, and author of nine books on Canadian socio-economic subjects.
Francis was appointed Distinguished Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
in Toronto in October 2007, for a one-year term. She was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Shorenstein Center in autumn 2005 and in 2007 had been a Media Fellow at the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum is a Swiss non-profit foundation, based in Cologny, Geneva, best known for its annual meeting in Davos, a mountain resort in Graubünden, in the eastern Alps region of Switzerland....
for over ten years.
Books
Francis' 1986 book Controlling Interest: Who Owns Canada? produced "the startling fact that one-third of Canada’s wealth was in the hands of just 32 families and five conglomerates"; it featured in Canadian best-seller lists for over a year. Her 2008 followup, Who Owns Canada Now: Old Money, New Money and The Future of Canadian Business showed that whilst much of the wealth covered in her earlier book had been inherited, 55 of the 75 wealthy families or individuals profiled were self-made. 36 of these had never been interviewed before, including K. Rai SahiK. Rai Sahi
K. Rai Sahi is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morguard Corporation, one of Canada's largest integrated real estate companies, and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ClubLink Enterprises Limited, Canada’s largest owner and operator of member golf clubs...
, the CEO of ClubLink Enterprises Limited, Canada’s largest owner and operator of member golf clubs.
Her 1996 book titled Fighting for Canada was published in the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as Maîtres Chanteurs Chez Nous!. In it, she alleged subversive tactics and violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
by members of the Quebec sovereignty movement
Quebec sovereignty movement
The Quebec sovereignty movement refers to both the political movement and the ideology of values, concepts and ideas that promote the secession of the province of Quebec from the rest of Canada...
during the 1995 Quebec referendum
1995 Quebec referendum
The 1995 Quebec referendum was the second referendum to ask voters in the Canadian province of Quebec whether Quebec should secede from Canada and become an independent state, through the question:...
.
View on environmental problems and overpopulation
In a column which referred to the then current 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as the Copenhagen Summit, was held at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 December and 18 December. The conference included the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate...
, Francis wrote: "The 'inconvenient truth' overhanging the UN's Copenhagen conference is not that the climate is warming or cooling, but that humans are overpopulating the world." She described various environmental issues related to overpopulation
Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a condition where an organism's numbers exceed the carrying capacity of its habitat. The term often refers to the relationship between the human population and its environment, the Earth...
, and stated that: "A planetary law, such as China's one-child policy
One-child policy
The one-child policy refers to the one-child limitation applying to a minority of families in the population control policy of the People's Republic of China . The Chinese government refers to it under the official translation of family planning policy...
, is the only way to reverse the disastrous global birthrate currently, which is one million births every four days."
Recognition and affiliations
Francis has been the recipient of awards for her work in journalism from organizations, publications, and universities in Canada. She has served on the advisory board of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS ResearchCanadian Foundation for AIDS Research
The Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research is a Canadian charitable foundation whose goal is to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS to increase funds for research. All of CANFAR’s fundraising efforts are geared towards raising money to fund Canadian HIV/AIDS research...
and a member of the board of directors for CARE
CARE (relief)
CARE is a broad-spectrum secular relief, humanitarian, and development non-governmental organization fighting global poverty. It is non-political, non-sectarian and operates annually in more than 70 countries across the globe.One of the organization’s primary focuses in its fight to eradicate...
Canada, and as the volunteer chair for the fund-raising campaign for Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
's community health center.
Francis became a Director of Aurizon Mines Ltd., listed on the Toronto
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
and American Stock Exchange
American Stock Exchange
NYSE Amex Equities, formerly known as the American Stock Exchange is an American stock exchange situated in New York. AMEX was a mutual organization, owned by its members. Until 1953, it was known as the New York Curb Exchange. On January 17, 2008, NYSE Euronext announced it would acquire the...
s September 2007. In November 2009 she became a trustee for the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences is an independent, non-profit marine science and education institute located in Ferry Reach, St. George's, Bermuda...
.