Graham, Al, 1929-2015 : Senator Graham was born in Dominion, (Cape Breton) Nova Scotia, on 21 May 1929. He was, before entering politics, a teacher, journalist, broadcaster and corporate executive. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University (and in 1993 received an honorary Doctor of Laws from his alma mater). He played a significant role in the early years of the Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO), where he held the offices of Senior Vice-President and later Executive Secretary. His first entry into federal politics was during the general federal election of 31 March 1958. He ran as a Liberal in the riding of The Highlands, in Nova Scotia. He was defeated.
He was named by Pierre Elliott Trudeau as Senator for the Senatorial Division of The Highlands on 27 April 1972. He held this office until May of 2004, a period of 32 years.
In the years 1972-1975 he served as President of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Between 1975 and 1980 he was National President of the Liberal Party of Canada. In 1987-1988 he was co-chair of the Liberal National Election Readiness Committee and then the National Election Campaign Committee respectively.
He held a number of significant political positions during this long political life. He was named Leader of the Government in the Senate (1997-1999), moving up from the position of Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate (1995-1997). Since the Liberal Party won no seats in from Nova Scotia in the general federal election of 1997, he was made Regional Minister for Nova Scotia (1997-1999) and thus entered Cabinet. While a member of the Senate, over the years 1980-1994 he chaired a number of Standing Senate committees (Social Affairs, Science and Technology; and Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration). He was Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee on Transport and Communications in 1991-1993. Finally, between 1973 and 2006 he was a member, from time to time, of the following Senate committees:
Standing Committee on Transport and Communications (15 Sessions of the House)
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (7 Sessions of the House)
Standing Committee of Selection
Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Standing Committee on Fisheries
Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce
Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural resources
Standing Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders
Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders
Standing Committee on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration
Standing Committee on National Finance
Between 1997 and 1999, while a member of Cabinet, he sat on several House Committees as well - the Special Committee of Council and the Committee on Economic Union. He was also an Alternate Member of Treasury Board.
He was a member of Canadian delegations to Ecuador, South Africa and China (1981-1984). He developed an avid interest in the promotion of liberalism and democracy and, working through the Liberal International, he chaired delegations to international congresses of the organization in Paris, Corsica, Bonn, Berlin, Hamburg, Stockholm, Rome, Tel Aviv, London, Zurich, Basel, Madrid, Brussels, Helsinki and Washington (1980s-1990s). In 1996 he was named Honourary Patron of the Liberal International in the Netherlands. This type of concern was also reflected in his work with and through the National Democratic Institute; he was a member of many international Observer missions sent to the Philippines, Paraguay, Democratic Republic of Germany (East Berlin), Nicaragua, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Cameroons and Pakistan (1986-1993). These experiences were reflected in his book, "The Seeds of Freedom. Personal Reflections on the Dawning of Democracy", published in 1993.
Over the course of his public career, he held many and varied memberships on boards of governors of various public institutions, such as St. Francis Xavier University, St. Rita Hospital and the University College of Cape Breton.
During his many years in political life, he was an avid and dedicated representative from the Maritimes, giving voice to the needs and people of that region.
On reaching the age of 75, he retired from the Senate in 2004. He passed away on April 22, 2015.
