Today in Canada’s Political History: Lowell Murray summoned to the Senate

It was on this date in 1979 that Prime Minister Joe Clark summoned one of the most important modern-era Senators to the Red Chamber.  I speak, of course, of Lowell Murray of Nova Scotia.Involved in Progressive Conservative politics since his university days at St. Francis Xavier University in his home province, Murray had worked at senior levels as an advisor in Tory campaigns for 20 years by the time of his appointment by his old friend, Joe Clark.To say that Senator Murray’s public service was distinguished would be an understatement. As a Senator he would later serve as a senior cabinet minister under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.  A true progressive, he was one of two senators to continue to sit as Progressive Conservatives following the dissolution of the federal PC Party and the creation of the Conservative Party of Canada.During my proud service as the research assistant to the Rt. Hon. Mr. Mulroney on his best-selling Memoirs, it was my high honour to get to know Senator Murray. I owe him a great deal for his assistance and encouragement of my work in the field of political history over many years.Lowell Murray retired from the Senate in 2011.caption id="attachment_716748" align="alignleft" width="176" Lowell Murray served in the Senate from 1979-2011/captionArthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist.  He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy.  A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.



Arthur Milnes is an accomplished public historian and award-winning journalist. He was research assistant on The Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney’s best-selling Memoirs and also served as a speechwriter to then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and as a Fellow of the Queen’s Centre for the Study of Democracy under the leadership of Tom Axworthy. A resident of Kingston, Ontario, Milnes serves as the in-house historian at the 175 year-old Frontenac Club Hotel.