Léonard Legault
Encyclopedia
Léonard Hilarion Joseph Legault, OC
(born February 19, 1935) is a Canadian
diplomat.
Born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
, he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1957 and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1959 from the University of Saskatchewan
. He was called to the Alberta Bar
in 1961. He was made a Queen's Counsel
in 1981.
He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1962 and served until 1973 in Ottawa
, Warsaw
, New Delhi
, and Geneva
. From 1973 to 1977, he was the Director-General of the International Fisheries and Marine Directorate. From 1977 to 1979, he was the High Commissioner
for Canada to Nigeria
and Sierra Leone
.
From 1979 to 1980, he was the Director-General in the Legal Bureau of External Affairs and Legal Adviser from 1980 to 1986. From 1982 to 1984, he was the Ambassador and agent for Canada in the Gulf of Maine Maritime Boundary Case
before the International Court of Justice
.
In 1986, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister
, External Affairs and from 1986 to 1990, he was the Minister (Economics) and Department Head of Mission in the Canadian Embassy
in Washington, D.C.
. From 1984 to 1987, he was a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
.
From 1990 to 1993, he was the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (U.S.) and Co-ordinator for the Free Trade Agreement, External Affairs and International Trade. From 1993 to 1997, he was Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to the Holy See
. In 1997, he was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Section of the International Joint Commission
(IJC).
In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
for his "superb legal mind, keen negotiating skills, and staunch moral integrity in defence of Canadian interests". He is the 1986 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born February 19, 1935) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
diplomat.
Born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan
-Education:The town has for the past four decades been noteworthy for College Mathieu, a francophone boarding school for boys and girls who wish to acquire or retain fluency in French...
, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1957 and a Bachelor of Law degree in 1959 from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
. He was called to the Alberta Bar
Law Society of Alberta
The Law Society of Alberta is the self-regulating body for lawyers in Alberta, Canada.-Purpose:The Law Society is created and governed by the . As a law society, the Law Society is much more than a professional association and every lawyer who practices in Alberta must belong to it...
in 1961. He was made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1981.
He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1962 and served until 1973 in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. From 1973 to 1977, he was the Director-General of the International Fisheries and Marine Directorate. From 1977 to 1979, he was the High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
for Canada to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
.
From 1979 to 1980, he was the Director-General in the Legal Bureau of External Affairs and Legal Adviser from 1980 to 1986. From 1982 to 1984, he was the Ambassador and agent for Canada in the Gulf of Maine Maritime Boundary Case
Gulf of Maine
The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America.It is delineated by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and Cape Sable at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northeast. It includes the entire coastlines of the U.S...
before the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
.
In 1986, he was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister
Deputy Minister (Canada)
In Canada, a deputy minister is the senior civil servant in a government department. He or she takes political direction from an elected minister. Responsibility for the department's day-to-day operations, budget and program development lie with the deputy minister...
, External Affairs and from 1986 to 1990, he was the Minister (Economics) and Department Head of Mission in the Canadian Embassy
Canadian Embassy in Washington
The Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C. is Canada's main diplomatic mission to the United States. The embassy building is located at 501 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Washington, D.C. between the Capitol and the White House, just north of the National Gallery of Art.- Overview :The embassy had...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. From 1984 to 1987, he was a Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
.
From 1990 to 1993, he was the Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (U.S.) and Co-ordinator for the Free Trade Agreement, External Affairs and International Trade. From 1993 to 1997, he was Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. In 1997, he was appointed Commissioner of the Canadian Section of the International Joint Commission
International Joint Commission
The International Joint Commission is an independent binational organization established by the United States and Canada under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.The Commission has responsibilities related to the following treaties and agreements:...
(IJC).
In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for his "superb legal mind, keen negotiating skills, and staunch moral integrity in defence of Canadian interests". He is the 1986 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award of the Public Service of Canada.