- Born
- August 20, 1949 — Uganda
- Family
- Has a son.
- Career
- Lawyer involved in defending the Oblates of Mary Immaculate against abuse claims (2000-2004); past member of the Girl Guides of Canada with volunteer roles as a Brownie, Guide, and Pathfinder Leader, and as an elected Commissioner.
- Political Experience
- Appointed to the Canadian Senate on June 13, 2001, representing British Columbia. Served as Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Sudan (2002-2006). Chair of the Canadian Committee on Women Peace & Security (2002). Vice-President of the Liberal Party of Canada (1994-1998). President of the National Women's Liberal Commission (1998-2003). Served on the board of the Liberal International in 1996. Ran unsuccessfully as the Liberal candidate in the 1993 and 1997 general elections.
- Notable
- First Muslim, first senator born in Africa, and first of South Asian descent appointed to the Senate. Her family became refugees in Canada after being expelled from Uganda in 1972. Recipient of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards in 2014. Retired from the Senate on August 20, 2024.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before being appointed to the Senate, Mobina Jaffer had a distinguished career in law. She practiced as a lawyer and was appointed a Queen's Counsel, a designation recognizing exceptional merit in the legal profession. According to reports, she was the first woman of South Asian descent to practice law in Canada and has focused on issues related to human rights, particularly for women and children.
Key Relationships & Connections
Mobina Jaffer was appointed to the Senate in 2001 on the advice of then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. For many years, she sat as a member of the Liberal caucus. She later joined the Independent Senators Group, which was formed to reduce partisanship in the Senate. She has also served in international roles, including as Canada's Special Envoy for Peace in Sudan.
Public Controversies
Senator Jaffer was one of several senators named in a 2015 report by Canada's Auditor General, Michael Ferguson, which investigated Senate expenses. The report questioned some of her travel and living expense claims. Following the report, her case, along with those of many other senators, was reportedly sent to an independent arbitrator for a final decision on whether the expenses were appropriate and if repayment was required.