David Collenette

David Collenette

David Michael Collenette, PC (born June 24, 1946) was a Canadian politician from 1974 to 2004, and a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. A graduate from York University's Glendon College in 1969, he subsequently received his MA from in 2004. He was first elected in the York East riding of Toronto to the House of Commons on July 8, 1974, in the Pierre Trudeau government.

Collenette served as a Member of the Canadian House of Commons for more than 20 years. He was elected five times and defeated twice. He served in the Cabinet under three prime ministers - Pierre Trudeau, John Turner and Jean Chrétien. He held several portfolios: Minister of State-Multiculturalism (1983–84); Minister of National Defense (1993–96); Minister of Veterans Affairs (1993–96); Minister of Transport (1997–2003) and Minister of Crown Corporations (2002–03). During the constitutional debates of the early 1980s, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House leader and was assigned by the government to Westminster to represent Canada's interests.