Quebec
Michael M Fortier has been Minister of Public Works and Government Services since he was sworn in on February 6, 2006. He was appointed to the Senate on February 27, 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Fortier worked in the legal and banking fields.
In 1985, he joined the Montreal office of the law firm Ogilvy Renault, where he worked for 14 years, specializing in securities, mergers and acquisitions. From 1992 to 1996, he managed Ogilvy Renault’s office in London, England, where he was responsible for business development in the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
In 1999, Mr. Fortier began a career in banking when he joined Credit Suisse First Boston, one of the largest investment banks on Wall Street. He held the position of managing director and senior advisor at CSFB and headed its office in Montreal. In 2004, he was hired by TD Securities, a wholly owned subsidiary of TD Bank Financial Group, as Managing Director (Quebec).
Mr. Fortier has been active in politics for many years. He was a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1998 and ran for the party in the 2000 general election. He co-chaired Stephen Harper’s national leadership campaign in 2004 when Mr. Harper became leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. He also co chaired the Conservative Party’s national campaigns during the 2004 and 2006 elections.
Mr. Fortier is married to Michelle Setlakwe and has five children.