The Speakers of the Senate of Canada

Hon. George J. Furey
Q.C., B.A., B. Ed., M. Ed., L.L.B. (2015 - )

A distinguished lawyer and educator, the Honourable George Furey has deep roots in the Newfoundland and Labrador community.

Born in St. John's, Senator Furey earned a B.A., B.Ed. and Master of Education from Memorial University. He worked for over a decade as a teacher, vice-principal and principal at various schools in Newfoundland. In 1980, he enrolled at Dalhousie University and was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1984. While in his second year of practicing law, he successfully challenged the Criminal Code language on sexual assault and proved that with the advent of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, certain Criminal Code provisions were unconstitutional. In 1993, he was appointed to the Provincial Police Complaints Commission. He was subsequently appointed as Queen's Counsel in 1996.

Senator Furey is also a widely respected community leader, having been involved with numerous voluntary groups, professional boards and provincial commissions, including the Boy Scouts of Canada, St. Clare's Mercy Hospital Ethics Committee, the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation and the Gonzaga High School Council. He also served as the President and Vice-President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association.

Senator Furey was appointed to the Senate on August 11, 1999, to represent his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a Senator, he has served as Chair of the Standing Committees on Internal Economy, Budgets and Administration and Legal and Constitutional Affairs. He has also been a member of numerous other committees.

On December 3, 2015, Senator Furey became the 45th Speaker of the Senate, and the first from Newfoundland and Labrador. In his opening address, he told his Senate colleagues that it was time to reinvent the institution and to fulfil its role, as envisioned under the Constitution, as an independent chamber of sober second thought.

George Furey is the first Canadian Speaker born in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Previous Speaker: Hon. Leo Housakos

© Library of Parliament  |  Revised: 2011-12

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