Mitchell Sharp

According to a biographical note posted to the Trilateral Commission:

"Mitchell Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1911. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1934, then pursued further studies there and at the London School of Economics. During that time, he worked as an economist and writer specializing in the grain trade. In 1942, he was asked by the Deputy Minister of Finance to join that Department and in 1947 he was named Director of its Economic Policy Division, As Associate Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce from 1951 to 1957, his responsibilities included international trade relations. He served briefly as Deputy Minister before resigning from the public service in 1958 to take up an appointment as Vice-President of Brazilian Traction, Light and Power Company.

"In 1963, after his election as Member of Parliament for the Toronto constituency of Eglinton, Mr. Sharp returned to the Department of Trade and Commerce as its Minister. From 1965 to 1968, he served as Minister of Finance. From 1968 to 1974, he was Secretary of State for External Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. He was President of the Privy Council and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons from 1974 until 1976. Two years later, he resigned from Parliament to take up an appointment as Commissioner for the Northern Pipeline Agency, which he held until 1988. During that time, he also served as Co-Chairman of a Task Force on Conflict of Interest, which published a report on Ethical Conduct in the Public Service in 1984. From 1976 to 1986, Mr. Sharp was also head of the Canadian group and deputy chairman of the Trilateral Commission."

"A Privy Councillor and an officer of the Order of Canada, Mr. Sharp was a Policy Associate with Strategicon from 1988 until he took up his present duties as a Personal Advisor to the Prime Minister following the 1993 general elections."