Don Johnston

Johnston returned to the Liberal fold in 1990, after Turner's resignation as leader, and he served two terms as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1990 to 1994, seeing the party through its victory in the 1993 general election.^{[1][additional citation(s) needed]}

OECD

In 1994, the government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien proposed Johnston for the position of secretary-general of the OECD. Johnston was elected to the post in November 1994 by the organization's member governments.^[1]

As the first non-European to occupy this prestigious position, Johnston began his mandate in 1996 and was elected to a second term in 2001.^[1] During his administration, the OECD represented 30 of the most advanced national economies and expanded its engagement to more than 70 non-members, with special country programs for Russia, China, Brazil and India.While the OECD is a forum for macroeconomic policy issues, it also deals with virtually all underlying structural issues including financial markets, trade and investment, taxation and corporate governance.

Under Johnston's stewardship, the OECD took the global lead in establishing the Principles of Corporate Governance (now the world standard) and revised the Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the bedrock of what is now known as corporate social responsibility. The Organisation also championed the correction of international harmful tax practices and the international harmonization of competition policy, while at the same time fostering sustainable development, which Johnston introduced to the OECD shortly after his arrival. He also created the Education Directorate which introduced the Program of International Student Assessment (PISA), now the leading reference for international educational comparisons.

OECD recommendations in these areas have been critical in enabling countries to structurally adapt to the challenges of globalization while maximizing its benefits to their economies.

Johnston stepped down from his position at the OECD on May 31, 2006.^[3]

Later career

In 2006, Johnston rejoined

Personal life

Johnston was married to Heather (née Bell Maclaren). The couple had four daughters. After retirement, the couple split their time between their houses in Quebec, another in Nova Scotia, and another in the south of France.^[1]

Johnston died in Quebec on February 4, 2022, at the age of 85.^[4][5]

Awards and distinctions

In recognition of his accomplishments at the OECD, Johnston was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun,^[1] the second most prestigious Japanese decoration and the highest one that can be bestowed on a non-Japanese citizen.^{[citation needed]} He received the Grand-Croix de l’Ordre de Léopold II, one of the highest honorific distinctions in Belgium, given by royal decree and generally reserved for heads of state. He was also presented with the Commander's Cross with the Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic by the president of Hungary and the Order of the White Double Cross, First Class, by the president of the Slovak Republic.^{[citation needed]}

In July 2008, Johnston was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Canada,^[6] in recognition of his contributions to public service in Canada as well as his achievements at the OECD. He was made an Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in 2011.^[7]

He has also received several honorary doctorates – from McGill University,^[8] Bishop's University, University of King's College, McMaster University and the Economics University of Bratislava, Slovakia.^[1]

He was given the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for service to Canada.^{[citation needed]}

Johnston was the chair of and an advisor to the McCall MacBain Foundation in Geneva. In addition, from 2006 until 2010, he was chairman of the

Montreal, composed by Donald Johnston (BCL ’58, BA ’60, LLD ’03); arranged, orchestrated and adapted by Marc Beaulieu (BMus ’80, MMus ’97); based on an earlier setting for piano and string quartet by Rafael Zaldivar (MMus ’10, DMus ‘17). Performed on October 18 and 19, 2019, in Pollack Hall by the McGill Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director Alexis Hauser.[9]

Publications

• Johnston, Donald (2017).
  ISBN 978-0-7735-4971-5
  .
• Johnston, Donald (1977).
  ISBN 978-0-7701-0016-2
  .
• Johnston, Donald (1988). With a Bang not a Whimper Pierre Trudeau Speaks Out Donald Johnston Editor. Toronto: Stoddart.
• Johnston, Donald (1986). Up The Hill (1st ed.). Montreal: Optimum Pub Intl.
  ISBN 9780888901781
  .
• Trudeau, Pierre (1989). Donald Johnston (ed.).
  ISBN 978-2890458666
  .

Archives

There is a Donald James Johnston fonds at Library and Archives Canada.^[10]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r} Freeman, Alan (2022-02-09). "Donald Johnston, first non-European to head OECD, dies at 85". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
2. ^ "MULRONEY'S PARTY, FREE TRADE WIN". Chicago Tribune. 22 November 1988. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
3. ^ "OECD Secretary-General to Step down in 2006". Oecd.org. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
4. ^ "Donald Johnston, first non-European to head OECD, passes away". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
5. ^ Donald Johnston obituary
6. ^ "Governor General Announces New Appointments to the Order of Canada". Archived from the original on 2009-09-08.
7. ^ "AWARDS TO CANADIANS". Canada Gazette.
8. ^ "Fall convocation honorary degree". Archived from the original on 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
9. ^ "McGill Symphony Orchestra performs Donald Johnston's Montreal Montréal". YouTube. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
10. ^ "Donald James Johnston fonds [multiple media]". Central.bac-lac.ca. Retrieved 11 February 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Don Johnston.

• Don Johnston – Parliament of Canada biography
• OECD Observer Water for Sustainable Development Spotlight on Water Donald J. Johnston Secretary-General of the OECD OECD Observer No 236, March 2003

Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Sinclair Stevens	President of the Treasury Board 1980–1982	Succeeded by Herb Gray
Preceded by Mark MacGuigan	Minister of Justice 1984	Succeeded by John Crosbie