Bennett Jones
The Honourable A. Anne McLellan joined the firm after a distinguished career in federal politics, where she served four terms as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre from 1993-2006. Ms. McLellan provides national and international strategic planning assistance to the firm's clients.
During her political career, Ms. McLellan was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Minister of Health, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Natural Resources and Federal Interlocutor for Metis and Non-Status Indians. As Deputy Prime Minister, she chaired two Cabinet committees: the Operations Committee and the Security, Public Health and Emergencies Committee.
Prior to entering politics, Ms. McLellan was a professor of law at the University of Alberta, where she served at various times as Associate Dean and Acting Dean. In 2006, she was appointed as the first distinguished scholar at the University of Alberta's Institute for American Studies. In 2007, the University of Alberta awarded Ms. McLellan an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree. Ms. McLellan retired from the University of Alberta effective June 30, 2013.
In May 2015, Ms. McLellan became Dalhousie University's seventh chancellor, with her term ending May 2020.
In July 2009, Ms. McLellan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, recognized "for her leadership and dedication as a politician and law professor, and for her contributions as a community volunteer." Cape Breton University conferred an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree on Ms. McLellan in October 2010. In October 2013, Ms. McLellan was awarded the Alberta Order of Excellence, the Province's highest honour.
Ms. McLellan is on the boards of:
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research;
- Dalhousie University, where she chairs the Dalhousie Advisory Council and was Chancellor from May 2015 to May 2020;
- Institute for Research for Public Policy, where she is chair;
- Invest Alberta Corporation, where she is vice chair;
- Pearson College - United World College, where she is chair; and
- TELUS Edmonton Community Board, where she is chair.
In October 2020, Ms. McLellan was appointed to The Committee on the Future of Corporate Governance in Canada created by TMX Group and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD). The Committee provides updated guidance on corporate governance for Canadian companies in an era of profound change.
She is a former board member of Nexen, a Canadian-based global energy company; the Edmonton Airports Regional Authority; Nutrien, the world's largest provider of crop inputs and services; Cameco Corp., the world's largest publicly-traded uranium mining company, where she was chair of the Nominating, Corporate Governance and Risk Committee; and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
In March 2011, Ms. McLellan was appointed by the Health Quality Council of Alberta (HQCA) to the Advisory Panel that was created to provide advice to the HQCA in its review of the quality of care and safety of patients requiring access to emergency department care and cancer surgery and the role and process of physician advocacy. She was a member of the Premier's Council for Economic Strategy, a group of 12 advisors providing "guidance on actions the Alberta government can take to best position the province for the future" and which issued its report, Shaping Alberta's Future, in May 2011.