Michel Benoit Cogger (born March 21, 1939) is a Quebec businessman, lawyer and former Canadian Senator. Cogger was a senior political advisor to and fundraiser for Progressive Conservative Prime Minister

Brian Mulroney Martin Brian Mulroney ( ; born March 20, 1939) is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and politician who served as the 18th prime minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. Born in the eastern Quebec city of Baie-Comeau, Mulroney studied political sci ...

and helped run the party's campaigns in Quebec in the

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

and 1988 federal elections in which the Tories swept the province.John Demont and Luke Fisher,
Cogger Convicted of Influence Peddling
, ''Maclean's'', June 15, 1998. Via Canadian Encyclopedia

Early life

Cogger attended law school at

Laval University Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of: People * House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne * Laval (surname) Places Belgium * Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxemb ...

in the 1960s, where he became friends with Mulroney. The two were among a group of students who organized the Congrès des Affaires Canadiennes.

Career

Cogger was campaign manager during Mulroney's bid to win the

1976 Progressive Conservative leadership convention The first Progressive Conservative Party of Canada leadership election was held in 1927, when the party was called the Conservative Party. Prior to then the party's leader was chosen by the caucus or in several cases by the Governor General of Can ...

as well as the successful campaign which forced Joe Clark to call a 1983 leadership convention. In 1986, Muroney named Cogger to the Senate. In 1991 the Royal Canadian Mounted Police laid influence peddling charges alleging that Cogger had taken payments from businessman

Guy Montpetit Guy or GUY may refer to: Personal names * Guy (given name) * Guy (surname) * That Guy (...), the New Zealand street performer Leigh Hart Places * Guy, Alberta, a Canadian hamlet * Guy, Arkansas, US, a city * Guy, Indiana, US, an unincorpo ...

in exchange for the use of Cogger's influence to win government grants and contacts. Cogger was acquitted in 1993 but in 1997 the

Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC; french: Cour suprême du Canada, CSC) is the Supreme court, highest court in the Court system of Canada, judicial system of Canada. It comprises List of Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada, nine justices, wh ...

ordered a new trial which led to Cogger's conviction in 1998. He was fined $3,000, put on 12 months' probation and ordered to do 120 hours of community service.Canadian Press, "Cogger quits Senate seat, leaving Tories with 35 in Red Chamber", ''Globe and Mail'', September 8, 2000 Cogger successfully appealed the sentence which was substituted by an

absolute discharge Absolute may refer to: Companies * Absolute Entertainment, a video game publisher * Absolute Radio, (formerly Virgin Radio), independent national radio station in the UK * Absolute Software Corporation, specializes in security and data risk manage ...

in 2001."Quebec: Cogger wins discharge", ''National Post'', May 18, 2001"Cogger given absolute discharge in influence peddling case"
''CBC News'', May 18, 2001 In September 2000, Cogger resigned from the Senate. He had been largely absent from the upper house during his legal battles and was fined a total of $23,250 for missing sessions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cogger, Michel 1939 births Living people Canadian senators from Quebec Lawyers in Quebec Politicians from Quebec City Progressive Conservative Party of Canada senators Université Laval alumni

Early life

Career

Further reading

References