- Born
- May 6, 1947
- Career
- Executive Assistant to Nova Scotia's Minister of Labour and Housing (1974-1978); administrator and fundraiser for charitable organizations including the Kidney Foundation of Canada, St. John Ambulance, the Nova Scotia Lung Association, the YMCA and the Canadian Diabetes Association; Past Chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Foundation for Philanthropy in Canada.
- Political Experience
- A long-time fundraiser and organizer for the Liberal Party of Canada, served as National Director of the Liberal Party during much of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's tenure. Appointed to the Senate representing Nova Scotia in November 2003. Served as Whip/Caucus Chair for the Progressive Senate Group. Retired on May 6, 2022.
- Notable
- In February 2013, became a subject of criticism for having the highest expenses of any senator in the previous year. In January 2014, was removed from the Liberal caucus by leader Justin Trudeau to sit as an independent. Later became a member of the Progressive Senate Group.
Based on publicly available information — may contain inaccuracies
Business & Financial Interests
Before his appointment to the Senate in 2003, Terry Mercer had a long career as a professional fundraiser and executive in the non-profit sector. He held senior positions with organizations such as the Kidney Foundation of Canada, the Nova Scotia Lung Association, St. John Ambulance, and the YMCA of Greater Toronto. His most prominent role was serving as the National Director of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1995 until his Senate appointment. In this position, he was the chief fundraiser and organizer for the party. During his time as a senator, he continued to be heavily involved in charitable work, particularly advocating for the charitable sector.
Key Relationships & Connections
Terry Mercer's career was deeply intertwined with the Liberal Party of Canada. He was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, for whom he had served as National Director of the party. He also held this senior party role during the leadership of Paul Martin, indicating close working relationships with the highest levels of the Liberal government during that era. Within the Senate, he served for a time as the Chair of the Senate Liberal Caucus, a leadership position that involved coordinating the activities and strategies of his fellow Liberal senators. He was known as a key organizer and a staunch party loyalist throughout his political career.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
In 2015, a comprehensive audit of Senate expenses by Canada's Auditor General flagged approximately $29,000 in claims made by Terry Mercer. The report questioned certain travel and living expense claims. Following the report, Senator Mercer disagreed with some of the findings but ultimately repaid the full amount identified by the Auditor General to settle the matter. Separately, Mercer faced scrutiny over the use of Senate resources. In 2017, the Senate's internal economy committee determined that he had inappropriately used his Senate-funded mailing privileges to send out fundraising letters for a charitable foundation. The committee ordered him to stop the practice.
Public Controversies
The most significant public controversy involving Terry Mercer was his inclusion in the 2015 Auditor General's report on Senate expenses. The audit was part of a wider scandal involving senators' spending that received intense media coverage and led to criminal charges against some of his colleagues. Mercer's expenses were among those flagged for review, and he was required to repay funds, which generated negative media attention. He also attracted criticism for what some saw as a blurring of the lines between his public duties as a senator and his private passion for charitable fundraising. This culminated in a 2017 ruling by a Senate committee that he had improperly used parliamentary resources for charitable fundraising activities, a practice he was ordered to cease.