Marcel Danis
Encyclopedia
Marcel Danis, PC
is a university
administrator, lawyer and former Canadian
politician.
Danis completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Loyola College
(since renamed Concordia University) in 1965, a Master of Arts in Political Science at Fordham University
in 1966, studied constitutional law and political science at the Université de Paris from 1966–1968, and completed a Bachelor of Civil Law at the Université de Montréal
in 1971. He is the son of a former judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, and the brother of Jean-Claude Danis, a judge at the Commission des lésions professionelles in Montreal.
Danis served as Vice-Dean, Administrative Affairs, in the Faculty of Arts and Science (1995–96), and Vice-Dean, Academic Planning (1994–95). He joined the faculty of Loyola College in 1968 as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and has taught since that time. He entered politics as a Progressive Conservative
candidate in the 1980 federal election
, but was defeated in the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
. During Joe Clark
's leadership convention candidacy in 1983, Danis was his chief Quebec organizer.
He ran again in the 1984 federal election
and entered the Canadian House of Commons
as the Tory Member of Parliament
for Verchères
. Danis was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
, and served in that position until 1990 when he was appointed by Prime Minister
Brian Mulroney
to the Cabinet as Minister of State
for Fitness and Sport, and Minister of State for Youth. He served concurrently as deputy government House Leader
.
In 1991, Danis was promoted to the position of Minister of Labour
. He left Cabinet with Mulroney's retirement in 1993, and was not a candidate in the 1993 election
. He left politics and returned to academia. He became Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia. In 1996, he became Vice-Rector of the university, and Secretary General in 1998. In 2005, he was named Vice-President, External Relations and Secretary-General. He continues to have an active criminal law practice.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
is a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
administrator, lawyer and former 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...
politician.
Danis completed a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Loyola College
Loyola College (Montreal)
Loyola College was a Jesuit college in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It ceased to exist when it was incorporated into Concordia University in 1974. A portion of the original College remains as a separate entity called Loyola High School....
(since renamed Concordia University) in 1965, a Master of Arts in Political Science at Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
in 1966, studied constitutional law and political science at the Université de Paris from 1966–1968, and completed a Bachelor of Civil Law at the Université de Montréal
Université de Montréal
The Université de Montréal is a public francophone research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It comprises thirteen faculties, more than sixty departments and two affiliated schools: the École Polytechnique and HEC Montréal...
in 1971. He is the son of a former judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, and the brother of Jean-Claude Danis, a judge at the Commission des lésions professionelles in Montreal.
Danis served as Vice-Dean, Administrative Affairs, in the Faculty of Arts and Science (1995–96), and Vice-Dean, Academic Planning (1994–95). He joined the faculty of Loyola College in 1968 as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and has taught since that time. He entered politics as a 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 in the 1980 federal election
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...
, but was defeated in the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. During Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
's leadership convention candidacy in 1983, Danis was his chief Quebec organizer.
He ran again in the 1984 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
and entered the Canadian 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...
as the Tory Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Verchères
Verchères (electoral district)
Verchères was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1892, and from 1988 to 1997....
. Danis was appointed Deputy Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament of Canada and is elected at the beginning of each new parliament by fellow Members of Parliament...
, and served in that position until 1990 when he was appointed by 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...
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...
to the Cabinet as Minister of State
Minister of state (Canada)
A Minister of State is a junior cabinet minister in the Canadian Cabinet, usually given specific responsibilities to assist a senior cabinet minister in a specific area....
for Fitness and Sport, and Minister of State for Youth. He served concurrently as deputy government House Leader
House Leader
In Canada, each political party with representation in the House of Commons has a House Leader who is a front bench Member of Parliament and an expert in parliamentary procedure...
.
In 1991, Danis was promoted to the position of Minister of Labour
Minister of Labour (Canada)
The Minister of Labour is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for setting national labour standards and federal labour dispute mechanisms...
. He left Cabinet with Mulroney's retirement in 1993, and was not a candidate in the 1993 election
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
. He left politics and returned to academia. He became Vice-Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia. In 1996, he became Vice-Rector of the university, and Secretary General in 1998. In 2005, he was named Vice-President, External Relations and Secretary-General. He continues to have an active criminal law practice.