Michel Vennat
Encyclopedia
Michel Vennat, OC
, QC
(born 1941) is a Canadian
civil servant, lawyer, businessman, and former President
of the Business Development Bank of Canada
. He was fired due to the investigation of the 2004 Canadian sponsorship scandal. In August 2006, Federal Courts deemed his firing illegal and, had his term not expired since his dismissal, he would have been reinstated to office.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
in 1960 and a Bachelor of Civil Law
from the Université de Montréal
in 1963. A Rhodes Scholar he received a Master of Arts
from Merton College, Oxford
in 1965. He was created a Queen's Counsel
in 1983.
In 1965, he joined External Affairs and from 1966 to 1968 was the Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Mitchell Sharp
. From 1968 to 1970, he was the Special Assistant to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau
. In 1970, he joined the Montreal offices of the law firm Stikeman Elliott
, becoming a Senior Partner before leaving in 1990. From 1976 to 1981, he was a member of the Board and Chairman of the Canadian Film Development Corporation.
In 1991, he was appointed CEO of Westburne Inc. and became CEO of United Westburne Inc. in 1993. From 1994 to 1996, he was the Chairman of the Council for Canadian Unity. In 1998, he was appointed chairman of the Business Development Bank of Canada
and served as president and CEO from 2000 until he was fired in 2004.
In 1995, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
He is the father of 5 children (Catherine, Charles-Alexandre, Frederic-Andre, Michele-Anne, and Phillipe-Olivier) and is married to Marie Anne Tawil. They live in Montreal, Quebec.
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...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 1941) is a 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...
civil servant, lawyer, businessman, and former President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Business Development Bank of Canada
Business Development Bank of Canada
The Business Development Bank of Canada is a crown corporation financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on technology and exporting.BDC's debt...
. He was fired due to the investigation of the 2004 Canadian sponsorship scandal. In August 2006, Federal Courts deemed his firing illegal and, had his term not expired since his dismissal, he would have been reinstated to office.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf is a private French-language educational institution offering secondary school and CEGEP college-level instruction in Montreal, Quebec. It is a co-ed establishment for students in their final year of secondary school and in college. It is boys-only in the first four years...
in 1960 and a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
from 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 1963. A Rhodes Scholar he received a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
in 1965. He was created a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1983.
In 1965, he joined External Affairs and from 1966 to 1968 was the Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Mitchell Sharp
Mitchell Sharp
Mitchell William Sharp, PC, CC was a Canadian politician and a Companion of the Order of Canada, was most noted for his service as a Liberal Cabinet minister. He had, however, served in both private and public sectors during his long career.-Background:Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
. From 1968 to 1970, he was the Special Assistant to Prime Minister 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,...
. In 1970, he joined the Montreal offices of the law firm Stikeman Elliott
Stikeman Elliott
Stikeman Elliott LLP is a Canadian corporate law firm. It is known as one of the "seven sisters" in Toronto and has approximately 500 lawyers in five Canadian offices as well as offices in New York, London , and Sydney. It was founded in 1952 by H...
, becoming a Senior Partner before leaving in 1990. From 1976 to 1981, he was a member of the Board and Chairman of the Canadian Film Development Corporation.
In 1991, he was appointed CEO of Westburne Inc. and became CEO of United Westburne Inc. in 1993. From 1994 to 1996, he was the Chairman of the Council for Canadian Unity. In 1998, he was appointed chairman of the Business Development Bank of Canada
Business Development Bank of Canada
The Business Development Bank of Canada is a crown corporation financial institution wholly owned by the Government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on technology and exporting.BDC's debt...
and served as president and CEO from 2000 until he was fired in 2004.
In 1995, he 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...
.
He is the father of 5 children (Catherine, Charles-Alexandre, Frederic-Andre, Michele-Anne, and Phillipe-Olivier) and is married to Marie Anne Tawil. They live in Montreal, Quebec.