Simon Reisman
Encyclopedia
Sol Simon Reisman, was a Canadian
civil servant, and the country's chief negotiator for the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
.
Born in Montreal
, Quebec
, the son of Kolman and Manya Reisman, Reisman graduated from Baron Byng High School
before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science in 1941 and a Master of Arts degree in 1942 from McGill University
. He was a veteran of the Second World War, having served in Italy
, Holland and Germany
with the Royal Canadian Artillery. After the war, he studied at the London School of Economics
.
In 1946, he entered into public service
joining the Department of Labour. Reisman was a member of Canada's delegation to the inaugural session of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
in the late 1940s. He made major contributions toward the drafting of the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact
. Reisman rose to senior positions in the public service, including deputy minister in the Department of Finance and the Department of Industry before retiring in 1975. Following the election of Brian Mulroney
, Reisman sent the new prime minister a memo advocating free trade
negotiations with the United States
. Mulroney accepted Reisman's plan and, in 1985, tapped him to lead Canada's trade negotiations with the United States.
Reisman was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in 1978 and the Outstanding Public Service Award in 1974.
He was married to Constance Carin for 65 years. They had three children, John Joseph, Anna Lisa, and Harriet Frances, and nine grandchildren, Trish, Julia, William, Jane, Molly, Aaron, Edie-Jane, Katherine, and Stephen-George.
He died in his sleep in Ottawa
, Ontario
on March 9, 2008, at the age of 88.
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...
civil servant, and the country's chief negotiator for the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
The Free Trade Agreement was a trade agreement signed by Canada and the United States on October 4, 1988. The agreement, finalized by October 1987, removed several trade restrictions in stages over a ten year period, and resulted in a great increase in cross-border trade...
.
Born in Montreal
Montreal
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...
, 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....
, the son of Kolman and Manya Reisman, Reisman graduated from Baron Byng High School
Baron Byng High School
Baron Byng High School was located at 4251 St. Urbain Street, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was named after the Julian Hedworth George Byng, 1st Viscount Byng of Vimy, the Governor General of Canada from 1921 to 1926. Byng was a World War I hero at the battle of Vimy Ridge, an important battle...
before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and political science in 1941 and a Master of Arts degree in 1942 from 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...
. He was a veteran of the Second World War, having served in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Holland and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with the Royal Canadian Artillery. After the war, he studied at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
In 1946, he entered into public service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
joining the Department of Labour. Reisman was a member of Canada's delegation to the inaugural session of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was negotiated during the UN Conference on Trade and Employment and was the outcome of the failure of negotiating governments to create the International Trade Organization . GATT was signed in 1947 and lasted until 1993, when it was replaced by the World...
in the late 1940s. He made major contributions toward the drafting of the Canada-U.S. Auto Pact
Automotive Products Trade Agreement
The Canada—United States Automotive Products Agreement, commonly known as the Auto Pact or APTA, was an important trade agreement between Canada and the United States. It was signed by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson and President Lyndon B...
. Reisman rose to senior positions in the public service, including deputy minister in the Department of Finance and the Department of Industry before retiring in 1975. Following the election of 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...
, Reisman sent the new prime minister a memo advocating free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
negotiations with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Mulroney accepted Reisman's plan and, in 1985, tapped him to lead Canada's trade negotiations with the United States.
Reisman 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...
in 1978 and the Outstanding Public Service Award in 1974.
He was married to Constance Carin for 65 years. They had three children, John Joseph, Anna Lisa, and Harriet Frances, and nine grandchildren, Trish, Julia, William, Jane, Molly, Aaron, Edie-Jane, Katherine, and Stephen-George.
He died in his sleep 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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
on March 9, 2008, at the age of 88.