Willie Adams (politician)

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Senator Willie Adams, 2008

Willie Adams OC (born June 22, 1934) is a Canadian Inuit politician who was a member of the Senate of Canada from 1977 to 2009.[1][2]

Biography

Adams was born in

Minister for Northern Affairs, to interview potential candidates.[3] Adams was not excited about joining the Senate upon being asked by Allmand - in fact, he joked that he did not even know what the Senate was, asking the Minister, "What's the Senate?"[4] However, upon being advised of a Senator's annual salary of approximately C$60,000, far more than Adams' electrician's pay of $7,500 a year, he seized the opportunity.[4] Adams was appointed as a Senator for the Northwest Territories by Jules Léger, the then Governor General of Canada, on the advice of the Prime Minister on April 5, 1977, and is a member of the Liberal Party.[5]

Adams took an intense interest in the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and upon the creation of the territory of Nunavut in 1999 became a Senator for that territory.[2][3]

In 2009, he left the Senate upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.[2] At that time, he was the longest-serving current member of the Canadian Senate,[1] and had served over 32 years in Parliament without ever having faced an election campaign, as Canadian Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister, not elected.[6]

Business ventures

By 1997, Adams had founded several businesses, including Kudlik Electric Ltd., Kudlik Construction Ltd., Rankin Inlet's Nanuq Inn and Ottawa's Umingmak Expediting Ltd. Adams is also president of Polar Bear Cave Investments, a company that owned the Nanuq Inn until its closure in 2003.

Personal life

Adams married his wife, Mary, in the late 1970s. The pair met when the latter travelled to the Northwest Territories to find work as a home economist. The couple have a son, Isaac. He was appointed as an Officer of the

Kemptville, Ontario.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b Willie Adams, Inuk, 1934-
  2. ^ a b c d Willie Adams (politician) – Parliament of Canada biography
  3. ^ a b Webster, Jacqueline (March 13, 1997). "After 63 long years, Willie Adams meets his father". Fredericton, New Brunswick: Nunatsiaq News. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Nunavut senator nears retirement". CBC News. December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  5. ^ Senator Willie Adams retired on June 22, 2009.
  6. ^ "Nunavut's next senator should be elected". Nunatsiaq News. July 3, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  7. ^ "Order of Canada appointees – December 2023". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories
Preceded by
New District
 MLA Keewatin South
1970–1975 		Succeeded by
District Abolished
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Senator Northwest Territories
1977–1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New position
 Senator Nunavut
1999–2009 		Succeeded by
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