Larry W. Smith, CQ (born April 28, 1951) is a Canadian athlete, businessperson and member of the Senate of Canada. He served as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from April 2017 until November 2019.
Larry Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Senate | |
| In office April 1, 2017 – November 5, 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Justin Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Claude Carignan |
| Succeeded by | Don Plett |
| Senator from Quebec (Saurel) | |
| Assumed office May 25, 2011 | |
| Nominated by | Stephen Harper |
| Appointed by | David Johnston |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| In office December 18, 2010 – March 25, 2011 | |
| Nominated by | Stephen Harper |
| Appointed by | David Johnston |
| Preceded by | Jean Lapointe |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 28, 1951 Hudson, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Canadian Senators Group |
| Other political affiliations | Conservative |
| Spouse | Leesa[1] |
| Children | Brad, Wes, Ashley[1] |
| Residence(s) | Hudson, Quebec, Canada[1] |
| Alma mater | Bishop's University (B.A.) McGill University (B.C.L.) |
| Profession | Athlete, businessman |
| Football career | |
| Career information | |
| Status | Retired |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| College | Bishop's |
| CFL draft | 1972, round: 1, pick: 1 |
| Drafted by | Montreal Alouettes |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1972–1980 | Montreal Alouettes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Education
editSmith graduated from Bishop's University with a bachelor's degree in economics. He was the first overall selection of the 1972 CFL Draft and went on to play nine seasons in the Canadian Football League, all of them as a running back with the Montreal Alouettes. Smith earned a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University in 1976, having undertaken his studies for law while playing pro football.
Football management career
editSmith became the Canadian Football League's eighth commissioner in 1992 and oversaw the league's ill-fated attempt to expand to the United States.[2] Smith then oversaw the re-location of the Baltimore Stallions to Montreal, where they became the Montreal Alouettes for the CFL's 1996 season. After resigning as commissioner in 1997, Smith served as president of the Alouettes until 2001 and again from 2004 to 2010.
Smith was announced as a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame 2023 class on March 16, 2023, in the builder's category.[3]
Business career
editSmith was president and publisher of the Montreal Gazette newspaper from 2002 to 2004. He has also held positions with Industrial Life Technical Services, John Labatt, Ltd., and Ogilvie Mills, Ltd.
Political career
editSmith considered running for leader of the then new Conservative Party of Canada in 2004 and was widely reported by Canadian press at the time to be on the verge of entering the race before finally declaring he would not be a candidate.[4]
On December 18, 2010, Smith was summoned to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and sat as a Conservative. Following his appointment to the Senate, Smith announced his intention to seek the nomination to run as a Conservative candidate in Lac-Saint-Louis in the next federal election.[5] When asked in a television interview why he accepted the appointment while intending to run for a Commons seat, Smith complained that he was taking a "dramatic, catastrophic" pay cut by serving as a senator,[6] a remark for which Smith has been criticized.[7]
Smith was defeated in his attempt to enter Parliament, placing third behind the incumbent Liberal MP and the NDP candidate, and it was announced on May 18, 2011, he would be re-appointed to the Senate.
The Conservative Senate Caucus elected Smith its leader on March 28, 2017; Smith defeated Senators Linda Frum and Stephen Greene for the position, and took office on April 1, 2017.[8] He served until November 5, 2019, when he was succeeded by Don Plett.[9]
On August 4, 2022, Smith left the Conservative caucus to join the Canadian Senators Group. Smith clarified that he would remain a member of the Conservative Party.[10]
Personal life
editSmith has two sons and a daughter. One of his sons, Bradley, is a former receiver for the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos, and the first Bachelor Canada, while his daughter, Ashley, was formerly married to CFL placekicker and punter Damon Duval.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Larry Smith". Montreal: Montreal Alouettes. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2010.
- ^ Berkovich, Karlo (April 3, 1998). "Ex-CFL head has worries for all pro sports". Waterloo Region Record. p. C2.
- ^ "Solomon Elimimian, John Bowman headline 2023 CFHOF class". Canadian Football League. March 16, 2023.
- ^ McClintock, Maria (November 17, 2003). "Lord knows, time is not right' N.B. Premier won't run for fed leader". Toronto Sun. p. 21.
- ^ "Tories hope Smith's star appeal will bring victory in Montreal". Globe and Mail. Canada. December 21, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ "'Catastrophic' pay cut to be senator: Smith". CBC News. December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
- ^ "Larry Smith criticized for salary comment". CTV News. December 23, 2010.
- ^ "Senator Larry Smith elected leader of Senate Conservatives". CBC News. March 28, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ Dickson, Janice (November 5, 2019). "Tories elect Don Plett as new Opposition Leader in the Senate". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
- ^ Major, Darren (August 4, 2022). "Quebec senator leaving Conservative caucus but says he will remain a member of party". CBC News.
- ^ "Duval and Popp at odds". Montreal Gazette. November 7, 2007. Archived from the original on November 23, 2007.