Allan Rock
Encyclopedia
Allan Michael Rock, PC
(born August 30, 1947) is a lawyer, former Canadian
politician
, diplomat
and now the President of University of Ottawa
. He was Canada's ambassador
to the United Nations
(2004–2006) and had previously served in the Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
, most notably as Justice Minister
(1993–1997) and Health Minister
(1997–2002).
Rock was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa
by the Board of Governors
of the University on June 3, 2008. His term as the President of University of Ottawa
began on July 15, 2008.
, where he was raised and educated through secondary school. He received a B.A. in 1968 and an LL.B. in 1971 at the University of Ottawa
and began his 20 year career as a trial lawyer where he specialized in civil, commercial and administrative litigation.
As a student leader in June 1969 he met John Lennon
and drove him around Ottawa while he was hosting him for a "peace conference" he was holding. He had invited Lennon to Ottawa after his famous "bed-in" in Montreal
. He tried to introduce Lennon to Pierre Trudeau
, but the prime minister was not at home when they dropped by.
Subsequently, as Minister of Industry and Minister of Infrastructure, he introduced Canada’s innovation strategy, was responsible for Canada’s three granting councils and introduced legislation to create the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to promote applied research in the social sciences and the humanities.
Rock initially declared he would run in the Liberal Party of Canada
leadership race to replace the retiring Jean Chrétien
, raising more money and polling higher numbers than John Manley
and Sheila Copps
. However, all of the other leadership candidates were unable to affect Paul Martin's commanding lead. In 2003, Rock dropped out of the leadership and announced his support for Martin. He had been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace the departing Prime Minister Paul Martin as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada but on February 3, 2006, Rock announced that he would not run for leadership of the Liberal Party. He later endorsed Stéphane Dion
's successful bid to lead the party.
, on the advice of Paul Martin, appointed Rock as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations
. Rock resigned his seat in the House of Commons and took office in early 2004. As Canada's ambassador to the UN, Rock spoke to the UN General Assembly on April 13, 2004, encouraging participation of the member nations of the United Nations on the matter of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
As the voice of Canadians at the United Nations, Rock was an outspoken advocate of human rights, human security and reforming the UN. At the 2005 World Summit at the UN, Rock led the successful Canadian effort to secure the adoption by world leaders of the doctrine "Responsibility to Protect" that protects populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Other roles at the UN included chairing a working group on obstacles to long-term development in Haiti, efforts to end the conflict in Northern Uganda and peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria involving the Government of Sudan and representatives of the three main rebel groups seeking greater autonomy for Darfur.
Rock tendered his resignation in February and on February 16, 2006, the newly elected Conservative
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
announced the appointment of Rock's replacement, John McNee
Rock remained in office until June 30, 2006 at Harper's request. Upon his departure, he called for an overhaul of the UN.
Rock submitted a report about child soldiers in Sri Lanka
on January 15, 2007 to the UN.
to resume his legal career with Harvey Thomas Strosberg at Sutts, Strosberg LLP.
. Rock was a student at the university and graduated in 1970 with a law degree.
On December 1, 2009, Rock made a guest appearance in the University of Ottawa
's Department of Theatre's production of the play Les amis. Funds raised by this event went to the United Way Campaign and the Bon Appétit! Student Food Bank.
was scheduled to give a talk at the University of Ottawa on March 23, 2010. The talk was cancelled following left-wing student protests at the talk venue. The organizers of the event blamed the university and the protesters. Rock responded in a university press release suggesting that the organizers may have needlessly cancelled the talk. At the centre of the controversy was a letter sent to Coulter before her scheduled talk in Ottawa and signed by the Vice President Academic. The letter by the Vice President Academic warned that Coulter could be arrested for hate speech. The letter was condemned as a violation of academic freedom by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
and widely criticized in the media. Three weeks after the cancelled Coulter event, Rock publicly stated having pre-approved the letter as the institution's response.
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,...
(born August 30, 1947) is a lawyer, 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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and now the President of University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. He was Canada's 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....
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(2004–2006) and had previously served in the Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, most notably as Justice Minister
Minister of Justice (Canada)
The Minister of Justice is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for the Department of Justice and is also Attorney General of Canada .This cabinet position is usually reserved for someone with formal legal training...
(1993–1997) and Health Minister
Minister of Health (Canada)
The Minister of Health is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's health department and the enforcing the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Health Act, the law governing Medicare...
(1997–2002).
Rock was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
by the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of the University on June 3, 2008. His term as the President of University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
began on July 15, 2008.
Early life
Rock was born to James Thomas Rock and Anne (née Torley) Rock in OttawaOttawa
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...
, where he was raised and educated through secondary school. He received a B.A. in 1968 and an LL.B. in 1971 at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
and began his 20 year career as a trial lawyer where he specialized in civil, commercial and administrative litigation.
As a student leader in June 1969 he met John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and drove him around Ottawa while he was hosting him for a "peace conference" he was holding. He had invited Lennon to Ottawa after his famous "bed-in" 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...
. He tried to introduce Lennon to Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, but the prime minister was not at home when they dropped by.
Ministerial career
In 1993, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-Centre and named Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In that capacity, he introduced significant improvements to the Criminal Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act and other federal legislation. He became Minister of Health in 1997, where he spearheaded the creation of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and more than doubled annual health research funding on a national scale.Subsequently, as Minister of Industry and Minister of Infrastructure, he introduced Canada’s innovation strategy, was responsible for Canada’s three granting councils and introduced legislation to create the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation to promote applied research in the social sciences and the humanities.
Rock initially declared he would run in the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
leadership race to replace the retiring Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, raising more money and polling higher numbers than John Manley
John Manley
John Manley may refer to:* John Manley , English soldier, MP and Postmaster General* John Manley, Canadian politician* John Manley , British archaeologist* John H. Manley, American nuclear physicist...
and Sheila Copps
Sheila Copps
Sheila Maureen Copps, PC is a former Canadian politician who also served as Deputy Prime Minister of Canada from November 4, 1993 to April 30, 1996 and June 19, 1996 to June 11, 1997....
. However, all of the other leadership candidates were unable to affect Paul Martin's commanding lead. In 2003, Rock dropped out of the leadership and announced his support for Martin. He had been mentioned as a potential candidate to replace the departing Prime Minister Paul Martin as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada but on February 3, 2006, Rock announced that he would not run for leadership of the Liberal Party. He later endorsed Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 2006 to 2008...
's successful bid to lead the party.
Ambassador to United Nations
On December 12, 2003, Queen Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, on the advice of Paul Martin, appointed Rock as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. Rock resigned his seat in the House of Commons and took office in early 2004. As Canada's ambassador to the UN, Rock spoke to the UN General Assembly on April 13, 2004, encouraging participation of the member nations of the United Nations on the matter of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
As the voice of Canadians at the United Nations, Rock was an outspoken advocate of human rights, human security and reforming the UN. At the 2005 World Summit at the UN, Rock led the successful Canadian effort to secure the adoption by world leaders of the doctrine "Responsibility to Protect" that protects populations from genocide, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Other roles at the UN included chairing a working group on obstacles to long-term development in Haiti, efforts to end the conflict in Northern Uganda and peace negotiations in Abuja, Nigeria involving the Government of Sudan and representatives of the three main rebel groups seeking greater autonomy for Darfur.
Rock tendered his resignation in February and on February 16, 2006, the newly elected Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
announced the appointment of Rock's replacement, John McNee
John McNee
John McNee is a Canadian career diplomat. McNee was Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations from 2006 to July 2011.McNee earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from York University in Canada in 1973 and a Master of Arts in History from Cambridge University in 1975.He joined the Department of...
Rock remained in office until June 30, 2006 at Harper's request. Upon his departure, he called for an overhaul of the UN.
Rock submitted a report about child soldiers in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
on January 15, 2007 to the UN.
Leaves public life
Rock announced earlier in June 2006, that he would be moving to Windsor, OntarioWindsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
to resume his legal career with Harvey Thomas Strosberg at Sutts, Strosberg LLP.
University of Ottawa President
It was announced in May 2008 that Rock would be appointed the next president of the University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. Rock was a student at the university and graduated in 1970 with a law degree.
Student activities
At his time at the University of Ottawa, Rock was a former President of the SFUO (the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa) in 1969. After the announcement of Rock's appointment to President of the University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Citizen wrote:At a time when the university, like other Canadian campuses, is experiencing a resurgence in student activism, Mr. Rock would bring a sensitivity to student issues, said Mr. Mitchell. "This is something that Allan Rock is particularly qualified for, being a former student leader himself."
On December 1, 2009, Rock made a guest appearance in the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
's Department of Theatre's production of the play Les amis. Funds raised by this event went to the United Way Campaign and the Bon Appétit! Student Food Bank.
Marc Kelly
Rock has had several conflicts with a former student, Marc Kelly, who was eventually de-registered and banned from the campus by Rock during the winter 2010 semester, thereby barring Kelly from his candidacy for president of the student federation. In November 2008, Kelly entered Rock's office, unannounced and without an appointment, to request a meeting to discuss a complaint he felt had been unfairly dealt with. Rock lost his temper in the exchange, which was being recorded by Kelly. On February 26, 2009, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association wrote to Rock to express its concern over his administration's banning of a student poster and to ask that he redress the situation with a public declaration.Joseph Hickey
On December 11, 2009, a student, Joseph Hickey, was handcuffed and removed from Rock's office due to a trespass order that barred the student from his courses, graduate research, and teacher assistant work. Hickey was trying to meet with Rock to discuss the order.Seamus Wolfe
On February 2, 2010, the Student Federation University of Ottawa (SFUO) president Seamus Wolfe was arrested on the criminal charge of disturbing the peace by swearing while trying to convince police that they needed a warrant to enter SFUO offices to arrest Marc Kelly for trespassing. Both Kelly and Wolfe were handcuffed and taken away. Kelly went to trial over the arrest and won the case, thereby establishing the precedent that the student union is the legal occupier of its premises on campus.Ann Coulter
Amid much media attention, right-wing commentator and author Ann CoulterAnn Coulter
Ann Hart Coulter is an American lawyer, conservative social and political commentator, author, and syndicated columnist. She frequently appears on television, radio, and as a speaker at public events and private events...
was scheduled to give a talk at the University of Ottawa on March 23, 2010. The talk was cancelled following left-wing student protests at the talk venue. The organizers of the event blamed the university and the protesters. Rock responded in a university press release suggesting that the organizers may have needlessly cancelled the talk. At the centre of the controversy was a letter sent to Coulter before her scheduled talk in Ottawa and signed by the Vice President Academic. The letter by the Vice President Academic warned that Coulter could be arrested for hate speech. The letter was condemned as a violation of academic freedom by the Canadian Association of University Teachers
Canadian Association of University Teachers
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is a federation of independent associations and trade unions representing approximately 65,000 teachers, librarians, researchers and other academic professionals and general staff at 120 universities and colleges across Canada.-Principal Aims:The...
and widely criticized in the media. Three weeks after the cancelled Coulter event, Rock publicly stated having pre-approved the letter as the institution's response.