John Sylvain
Encyclopedia
John Sylvain is a Montreal insurance executive who was named to the Canadian Senate
by Brian Mulroney
in 1990.
The British born Sylvain had headed United Provinces Insurance Co. Ltd. and served as a director on the Canadian Development Investment Corporation. During the 1988 federal election
he was campaign manager for Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Robert Layton
in the Montreal-area riding of Lachine—Lac-Saint-Louis
.
Sylvain was one of several Senators named by Mulroney in 1990 with the purpose of creating a Progressive Conservative majority in the upper house
in order to pass the enactment of the Goods and Services Tax
which had been delayed by the Senate's Liberal majority.
He served as deputy chair of the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
.
Sylvain decided to retire early from the Senate and left the body on February 1, 1996, three years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Sylvain's retirement allowed the Liberals, who were again in government, to regain control of the Senate.
He is the brother in law of financier and Power Corporation of Canada
chairman Paul Desmarais, Sr.
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...
by Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
in 1990.
The British born Sylvain had headed United Provinces Insurance Co. Ltd. and served as a director on the Canadian Development Investment Corporation. During the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
he was campaign manager for Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Robert Layton
Robert Layton
Robert Edward John "Bob" Layton, PC was a Canadian politician.-Early career:Robert Layton was born in Montreal, the son of Norah Lestelle and former Quebec cabinet minister Gilbert Layton. He graduated from McGill University in 1947...
in the Montreal-area riding of Lachine—Lac-Saint-Louis
Lachine—Lac-Saint-Louis
Lachine—Lac-Saint-Louis was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997.This riding was created in 1987 from Lachine and Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine East ridings...
.
Sylvain was one of several Senators named by Mulroney in 1990 with the purpose of creating a Progressive Conservative majority in the 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 :...
in order to pass the enactment of the Goods and Services Tax
Goods and Services Tax (Canada)
The Goods and Services Tax is a multi-level value added tax introduced in Canada on January 1, 1991, by then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and his finance minister Michael Wilson. The GST replaced a hidden 13.5% Manufacturers' Sales Tax ; Mulroney claimed the GST was implemented because the MST...
which had been delayed by the Senate's Liberal majority.
He served as deputy chair of the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
The Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce is a standing committee in the Senate of Canada.-Membership:-External links: Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking,Trade and Commerce...
.
Sylvain decided to retire early from the Senate and left the body on February 1, 1996, three years before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Sylvain's retirement allowed the Liberals, who were again in government, to regain control of the Senate.
He is the brother in law of financier and Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada is a Canadian company with assets in North America and Europe in a number of industries. These industries include media, pulp and paper, and financial services....
chairman Paul Desmarais, Sr.