John Manley
Leader
Biography
The Honourable John Manley is the president and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and a former deputy prime minister of Canada. In a career in politics spanning 16 years, Manley helped lead the country through dramatic global changes and a new world order.
When terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Manley was asked to chair the Cabinet Committee on Public Security and Anti-Terrorism to co-ordinate Canada’s response. As foreign affairs minister, he worked with Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, to create the Canada-United States Smart Border Accord, a plan to ensure the secure flow of people and goods between the two countries. For his influential role in the wake of 9/11, he was named “Newsmaker of the Year” by TIME Canada.
While in government, Manley served as minister of industry, minister of foreign affairs and minister of finance until his retirement in 2004. He was the chair of the Royal Commission on Electric Power Planning for Ontario and has frequently worked on developing public policy for different governments. His experience with international issues was recognized again in 2007, when Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed him to head an independent panel on Canada’s future role in Afghanistan.
He graduated from Carleton University with a BA in mathematics in 1971 and completed a law degree from the University of Ottawa in 1976. He clerked for former chief justice Bora Laskin of the Supreme Court of Canada and was called to the bar in 1978. In 1988, the Ottawa native was elected MP for Ottawa South and was re-elected three times. During his time in government, Mr. Manley promoted many initiatives in Canada’s knowledge sector; ensuring public schools had the technology to connect to the Internet in the early days of the web.
Manley was awarded the 2003 A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction from Carleton for his remarkable career and contributions. He is on the Distinguished Advisory Council of Carleton’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, serves on the boards of several publicly traded companies and is active in the not-for-profit sector. He holds honorary degrees from Carleton University, the University of Toronto, the University of Ottawa and Western University. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2009, Manley continues to serve by bringing his principled leadership to governments and private industries.
