Bob Rae

For people named Robert Rae, see Robert Rae (disambiguation). For the similarly named American filmmaker, see Bob Ray. For the American comedy duo, see Bob and Ray.

His Excellency the Honourable
Bob Rae
PC CC OOnt KC
Rae in 2019
25th Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 1, 2020[1]
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byMarc-André Blanchard
Special Envoy of Canada to Myanmar
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 1, 2017
Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau
Preceded byOffice established
Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties of the International Criminal Court
In office
2021–2023
Appointed byAssembly of States Parties
Preceded byMichal Mlynár [uk]
Succeeded byMichael Kanu
Member of Parliament
for Toronto Centre
In office
March 17, 2008 – July 31, 2013
Preceded byBill Graham
Succeeded byChrystia Freeland
Interim Leader of the Liberal Party
In office
May 25, 2011 – April 14, 2013
Preceded byMichael Ignatieff
Succeeded byJustin Trudeau
21st Premier of Ontario
In office
October 1, 1990 – June 26, 1995
MonarchElizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor
Preceded byDavid Peterson
Succeeded byMike Harris
Leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party
In office
February 7, 1982 – June 22, 1996
Preceded byMichael Cassidy
Succeeded byHoward Hampton
Member of the Ontario Legislative Assembly
for York South
In office
November 4, 1982 – February 29, 1996
Preceded byDonald MacDonald
Succeeded byGerard Kennedy
Member of Parliament
for Broadview-Greenwood
(Broadview; 1978–1979)
In office
October 16, 1978 – May 2, 1982
Preceded byJohn Gilbert
Succeeded byLynn McDonald
Personal details
Born
Robert Keith Rae

(1948-08-02) August 2, 1948 (age 76)[2]
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal (1968; 2006–present)
New Democratic
(1974–1998)
Other political
affiliations		Ontario New Democratic (1974–1998)
Spouse
​
(m. 1980)​
Children3
ParentSaul Rae
RelativesJackie Rae (uncle), John A. Rae (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Toronto (BA, LLB)
Balliol College, Oxford (BPhil)
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • academic
Websitepm.gc.ca/en/news/backgrounders/2020/07/06/honourable-bob-rae

Robert Keith Rae[3] PC CC OOnt KC (born August 2, 1948)[4] is a Canadian diplomat and former politician who is the current Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations since 2020.[5] He previously served as the 21st premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party from 1982 to 1996, and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011 to 2013. Between 1978 and 2013, he was elected 11 times to federal (Broadview, Broadview-Greenwood, Toronto Centre) and provincial (York South) parliaments.[4]

Rae was a New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament from 1978 to 1982. He then moved to provincial politics, serving as leader of the Ontario NDP from February 7, 1982, to June 22, 1996. After leading his party to victory in the 1990 provincial election he served as the 21st Premier of Ontario from October 1, 1990, to June 26, 1995, and was the first person to have led a provincial NDP government east of Manitoba. While in office, he brought forward a number of initiatives that were unpopular with many traditional NDP supporters, such as the Social Contract. Rae's subsequent disagreement with the leftward direction of the NDP led him to resign his membership. In 2006, he joined the Liberals; he had previously been a Liberal in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 2006, Rae was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberals, finishing in third place on the third ballot. He returned to the House of Commons of Canada on March 31, 2008, as a Liberal MP after winning a March 17, 2008 by-election, holding the riding that had previously been held by Liberal Bill Graham. He was re-elected in the 2008 general election. Rae ran again as a candidate for the party leadership but withdrew on December 12, 2008. He was re-elected in the Toronto Centre riding in the 2011 general election and was named interim leader of the Liberal Party weeks later,[6] replacing Michael Ignatieff; he served in that position until Justin Trudeau's election as party leader in early 2013.[7]

On June 19, 2013, Rae announced that he would resign from parliament in order to become chief negotiator for James Bay area First Nations in their negotiations with the provincial government.[8] His resignation from parliament became effective July 31, 2013.[9] Rae joined Olthuis Kleer Townshend (OKT Law) LLP (a law firm specializing in representing Aboriginal clients) as a partner in February 2014. Rae sits as an advisor to Canada's Ecofiscal Commission. Rae was appointed Canada's special envoy to Myanmar in October 2017 and advised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the Rohingya crisis.[10][11] He is also a Senior Fellow to the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. On July 6, 2020, his appointment as Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Arms of the Government of Ontario.
  1. ^ Paikin, Steve (July 13, 2020). "Another mission for Ontario's one-time boy wonder". TVOntario. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bob Rae". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019., engl. or french
  3. ^ "The Honourable Bob Rae". Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Biographical notes – Bob Rae". October 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Tasker, John Paul (July 6, 2020). "Bob Rae named Canadian ambassador to the United Nations". CBC News. Archived from the original on July 6, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Bob Rae chosen as Canada Liberal Party interim leader". BBC News. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on November 26, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  7. ^ "Liberals choose Rae as interim leader". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  8. ^ "Bob Rae stepping down as MP". CBC News. June 19, 2013. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  9. ^ Wingrove, Josh (July 11, 2013). "Bob Rae sets departure date as First Nations work picks up". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference bobburma was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Bob Rae says Canada should take leadership role in Rohingya crisis | CBC News". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on May 30, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.