Brent Cotter

The Honourable
Brent Cotter
KC
Senator from Saskatchewan
In office
January 31, 2020 – December 18, 2024
Nominated byJustin Trudeau
Appointed byJulie Payette
Preceded byRaynell Andreychuk
Personal details
Born
William Brent Cotter

(1949-12-18) December 18, 1949 (age 75)
NationalityCanadian
Political partyIndependent Senators Group
Occupation
  • Civil servant
  • university administrator

William Brent Cotter KC is a former member of the Senate of Canada from the province of Saskatchewan. On January 31, 2020, Cotter was nominated by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fill a vacant Senate seat for Saskatchewan.[1][2][3] He retired on December 18, 2024 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

Cotter was formerly dean of law at the University of Saskatchewan and was one of the first professors and writers in the field of legal ethics in Canada.[4] He is one of the founding members of the Canadian Association for Legal Ethics.[5] Prior to his academic career, Cotter was a public servant for the government of Saskatchewan and served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General and has also served as the province's Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.[1][6] As of 2021, he supported Canadian legalized gambling.[5]

He submitted an application to serve on the senate in 2018.[7] He has stated that he applied because the senate was less politically partisan than it was in the past,[7] and that he became interested when "changes were made to appoint people to Senate who were more diverse and less politically aligned".[8] He was the sponsor of Bill C-22 in the Senate, which established the Canada Disability Benefit.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Prime Minister announces the appointment of two Senators". Prime Minister of Canada. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. ^ Tasker, John Paul (J.P.) (31 January 2020). "With two new Senate appointments, Trudeau has now appointed half of the upper house". CBC News. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Saskatchewan, New Brunswick get new senators". The Chronicle Journal. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Former U of S law dean Cotter to fill Saskatchewan seat on Senate". Saskatoon StarPhoenix. 31 Jan 2020.
  5. ^ a b Ralph, Dan (26 May 2021). "Saskatchewan senator optimistic single-game sports betting bill will pass". CBC. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  6. ^ "William Brent Cotter, Q.C." Prime Minister's Office (Press Release). January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Sask.'s new senator wants to give the Prairies a voice in Ottawa". CBC. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ "USask grad appointed to Senate of Canada". University of Saskatchewan News. 31 January 2020.
  9. ^ Khedr, Rabia (11 April 2024). "Brent Cotter and Rabia Khedr: Ottawa, fund Disability Benefit this budget cycle". The Province. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ "C-22". LEGISinfo. Parliament of Canada.


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