Senator Terry M. Mercer

Province: Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax)
Affiliation: Liberal Party of Canada
Telephone: 613-996-2657
Fax: 613-947-2345
Email: terry.mercer@sen.parl.gc.ca
Staff: Petten, Sherry (E); Sheppard, David A. (P)

Biography

Appointed to the Senate by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien in November 2003, Senator Terry M. Mercer represents the province of Nova Scotia and the Senatorial Division of Northend Halifax. He is currently the Deputy Leader and Chair of the Senate Liberals (he also served as Chair of the Senate Liberal Caucus from 2008-2012).

Senator Mercer served as the Director of Fundraising of the Liberal Party of Canada starting in 1995 and as National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1997-2003. Prior to working with the Liberal Party, he held a wide variety of positions with various charitable institutions. From 1993-1995, he was the Executive Director of the Metro Toronto Branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association, while from 1987-1993, he was Vice President and Director, Financial Development of the YMCA of Greater Toronto. Senator Mercer has also held positions with the Nova Scotia Lung Association, St. John Ambulance Nova Scotia Council, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada (Nova Scotia Branch).

Senator Mercer has been very active in the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and is a former Chair of the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy in Canada. He is a member of the Nova Scotia and Ottawa Chapters of AFP. As well, Senator Mercer has served on the AFP Association Board of Directors and the AFP Canada Council.

Senator Mercer is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and has lectured extensively on modern ethical fundraising techniques. He has been a founding member and Director of two chapters of AFP and a member of the Executive Committee of the North American YMCA Development Offices, 1990-1997.

Before working for these charitable institutions, Senator Mercer worked as Executive Assistant to the Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Housing from 1974 to 1978. He is a recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the 125th Anniversary of Canadian Confederation, the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Senator Mercer has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary's University in Halifax and also holds a Doctor of Civil Law, Honoris Causa (Arts & Science) from SMU. He and his wife Ellen (nee Simmons) live in Halifax and have one son, Michael, daughter-in-law Lisa Courtney, and grandchildren Ellie and Oliver.

Interventions in the Senate Chamber

As of March 18, 2019, when video broadcasting began

Link	Date
senators’ statements — National Blood Donor Week	2019.06.10 – 18:09
Fisheries Act Bill to Amend--Third Reading	2019.06.06 – 15:00
routine proceedings — Charitable Sector Notice of Motion to Authorize Special Committee to Deposit Report with Clerk During Adjournment of the Senate	2019.05.30 – 13:51
Girl Guides of Canada Bill Private Bill--Third Reading--Motion in Amendment--Debate Continued	2019.05.29 – 15:52
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Motion to Authorize Committee to Examine Certain Events Relating to the Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and to Call Witnesses--Motion in Amendment--Debate	2019.05.09 – 17:37

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Date	Title	Related Bill	Vote
2019-06-06 Related Bill: C-69 Vote: Nay	An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts – C-69 – Third Reading – Amendment (Sen. Plett)	C-69	Nay
2019-06-06 Related Bill: C-69 Vote: Nay	An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts – C-69 – Third Reading – Amendment (Sen. Manning)	C-69	Nay
2019-06-06 Related Bill: C-48 Vote: Nay	Oil Tanker Moratorium Act – C-48 – TRCM no. 17 – Report on bill with a recommendation – Adoption of Report	C-48	Nay
2019-06-06 Related Bill: C-69 Vote: Nay	An Act to enact the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, to amend the Navigation Protection Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts – C-69 – Third Reading – Amendment (Sen. Boisvenu)	C-69	Nay
2019-06-06 Related Bill: C-68 Vote: Yea	An Act to amend the Fisheries Act and other Acts in consequence – C-68 – Third Reading	C-68	Yea

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Committee Membership

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The following are ex officio members of all committees except for the Standing Committee on Ethics and Conflict of Interest for Senators and the joint committees:

the Leader of the Government (Government Representative) and the Leader of the Opposition or, in the absence of either, their respective Deputy Leaders; and

Pursuant to the Order of the Senate of November 7, 2017:

the Legislative Deputy to the Government Representative or the Government Liaison, in the absence of the Government Representative; and
the leader or facilitator of any recognized party or recognized parliamentary group or, in their absence, the designated deputy leader or deputy facilitator.