- Born
- July 22, 1951 — rural Manitoba
- Education
- law degree from Osgoode Hall, York University; LL.M. in comparative constitutional law at Osgoode Hall
- Career
- Principal (dean) of the University of Winnipeg Global College in Manitoba, Canada between 2008 and 2012
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Senate of Canada on October 27, 2016
- Notable
- Named a member of the Order of Canada in 1985
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Marilou McPhedran is a human rights lawyer and professor. Before her appointment to the Senate, she was a founding principal of the Global College at the University of Winnipeg. She co-founded several non-profit organizations, including the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), which advocates for gender equality. Her professional life has been focused on law, academia, and activism rather than corporate business. Her Senate disclosures have listed assets such as publicly traded securities and a registered retirement savings plan.
Key Relationships & Connections
Marilou McPhedran was appointed to the Senate in 2016 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. She is a co-founder of the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF), a prominent Canadian legal and feminist organization. Through her work in human rights, she has been associated with numerous activists and legal scholars. She was initially part of the Independent Senators Group but left in 2021 to sit as a non-affiliated senator.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
In 2023, the Senate's ethics officer investigated a sponsored trip taken by Senator McPhedran to Taiwan. The investigation was to determine if she had properly disclosed the third-party-funded travel. The ethics officer's report concluded that while she had made an administrative error in her disclosure, she did not breach the conflict of interest code for senators. The report recommended no penalties.
Public Controversies
Senator McPhedran has faced public scrutiny over allegations of workplace harassment and mistreatment of her staff. Multiple former employees have reportedly filed complaints, describing a toxic work environment. These allegations led to a formal workplace assessment and have been the subject of media reports. In 2023, she also faced controversy after publicly announcing her intention to resign from the Senate years before her mandatory retirement date, in an effort to trigger a by-election for her seat. She later rescinded this decision, stating she would serve out her full term.