Percy Downe
 |
Percy Downe | |
|---|---|
 Downe in 2013 | |
| Canadian Senator fromPrince Edward Island | |
| Assumed office June 26, 2003 | |
| Nominated by | Jean Chrétien |
| Appointed by | Adrienne Clarkson |
| 8thChief of Staff to the Prime Minister | |
| In office May 2, 2001 – June 26, 2003 | |
| Prime Minister | Jean Chrétien |
| Preceded by | Jean Pelletier |
| Succeeded by | Eddie Goldenberg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 8, 1954 Charlottetown,Prince Edward Island,Canada |
| Political party | Canadian Senators Group(2019–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Alma mater | University of Prince Edward Island |
| Occupation |
|
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Force Mobile Command |
| Years of service | 1970–1972 |
| Unit | The Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) |
Percy E. Downe(born July 8, 1954) is a CanadianSenatorand former political aide.
Since graduating from theUniversity of Prince Edward Islandin 1977, Downe has served at the provincial and federal levels of government in Canada. Downe moved toOttawafollowing theLiberalvictory in the1993 federal election,and served as executive assistant to theSecretary of StateforVeterans Affairs.He subsequently served as executive assistant to theMinister of Fisheries and Oceans,and then theMinister of Labour.
He joined thePrime Minister's Officeas director of appointments in 1998. He becamePrime MinisterJean Chrétien'schief of staffin 2001. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada on June 26, 2003.
Downe is currently Vice-Chair of the SenateStanding CommitteeonForeign Affairs and International Trade,Joint-Chair of the Standing Joint Committee on theLibrary of Parliament,a member of the Senate Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration, and is also on the Executive Committee of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.
He was also formerly a member of the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance, the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs and the Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Rights and Procedures of Parliament.
Downe is also currently Vice-Chair ofThe Parliamentary Network on the World Bank & International Monetary Fund.
On January 29, 2014, Liberal Party leaderJustin Trudeauannounced all Liberal Senators, including Downe, were removed from the Liberal caucus, and would continue sitting as Independents.[1]Those Senators created theSenate Liberal Caucus,distinct from the Liberal caucus in the House of Commons.[2]
With the Senate Liberal Caucus facing losing officialparliamentary caucusstatus in 2020 with a third of its caucus facing mandatory retirements on their turning age 75, SenatorJoseph Dayannounced that theSenate Liberal Caucushad been dissolved and a newProgressive Senate Groupformed in its wake,[3][4]with the entire membership joining the new group, including this senator.[3]However, on November 18, 2019, Downe announced he was joining theCanadian Senators Group.[5]
He resides inCharlottetownwith his wife and two daughters.
References
[edit]- ^"Justin Trudeau removes senators from Liberal caucus | CBC News".
- ^"Trudeau's expulsion catches Liberal senators by surprise".Globe and Mail.January 29, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 29,2014.
- ^abTasker, John Paul (J.P.) (14 November 2019)."There's another new faction in the Senate: the Progressive Senate Group".CBC News Online.Retrieved14 November2019.
- ^"One-time Liberal senators rename themselves as Progressive Senate Group".CTV News. The Canadian Press. 14 November 2019.Retrieved14 November2019.
- ^"Jean-Guy Dagenais, Tory Senator, Quits Caucus Over Andrew Scheer's Views | HuffPost Canada".Archived fromthe originalon 2019-11-19.