Mac Harb
Encyclopedia
Mac Harb is a Canadian
Senator
and former Member of the House of Commons
.
and immigrated to Canada
to study at the University of Ottawa
. He subsequently worked as an engineer at Northern Telecom and a professor at Algonquin College
in Ottawa
. Harb was elected to Ottawa City Council
in 1985 and served as deputy mayor in 1987 and 1988.
He was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1988 federal election
as the Liberal
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Ottawa Centre
. He supported Jean Chrétien
's bid to succeed John Turner as leader of the Liberal Party in 1990, and remained a Chrétien loyalist throughout his career as an MP. Harb endorsed Dalton McGuinty
's bid to lead the Liberal Party of Ontario in 1996 (Canada NewsWire, 19 August 1996).
In September 2003, Harb was appointed to the Canadian Senate
on Chrétien's recommendation.
In March 2009, Harb attempted to introduce a bill that would have limited the East Coast seal hunt only to those with aboriginal treaty rights. In a highly unusual turn of events, no other Senator would second Harb's proposed legislation, so the bill could not receive even first reading. Other senators could not recall the last time a bill failed to be seconded.
is investigating Senator Harb for misuse of a special passport as part of his efforts in lobbying for Niko Resources
, a company that paid a $9.5 million (Canadian) fine for bribing an official in Bangladesh.
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...
Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
and former Member of the 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...
.
Life and career
Harb was born in Chaat, LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and immigrated to Canada
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...
to study 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...
. He subsequently worked as an engineer at Northern Telecom and a professor at Algonquin College
Algonquin College
Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is a publicly funded English-language college and member of Polytechnics Canada located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The college serves the National Capital Region and the outlying areas of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec...
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...
. Harb was elected to Ottawa City Council
Ottawa City Council
The Ottawa City Council is the governing body of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is composed of 23 city councillors and the mayor. The mayor is elected at large, while each of the councillors represent wards throughout the city. Council members are elected to four year terms with the...
in 1985 and served as deputy mayor in 1987 and 1988.
He was first elected to 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...
in the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
as the Liberal
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...
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,...
(MP) for Ottawa Centre
Ottawa Centre
Ottawa Centre is an urban federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968...
. He supported 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....
's bid to succeed John Turner as leader of the Liberal Party in 1990, and remained a Chrétien loyalist throughout his career as an MP. Harb endorsed Dalton McGuinty
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
's bid to lead the Liberal Party of Ontario in 1996 (Canada NewsWire, 19 August 1996).
In September 2003, Harb was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
on Chrétien's recommendation.
In March 2009, Harb attempted to introduce a bill that would have limited the East Coast seal hunt only to those with aboriginal treaty rights. In a highly unusual turn of events, no other Senator would second Harb's proposed legislation, so the bill could not receive even first reading. Other senators could not recall the last time a bill failed to be seconded.
Controversy
On 25 June 2011, the Globe and Mail alleged that the Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
is investigating Senator Harb for misuse of a special passport as part of his efforts in lobbying for Niko Resources
Niko Resources
Niko Resources is an India and South East Asia focused oil and gas exploration and production company that shares ownership of many exploration and development properties with Komodo Energy and Reliance Industries. Though it holds exploration rights to of land in 7 countries production currently...
, a company that paid a $9.5 million (Canadian) fine for bribing an official in Bangladesh.