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The University of Toronto is recognizing business leader, politician and diplomat Frank McKenna with an honorary degree. He received his degree on June 11 during convocation ceremonies for St. Michael's College.

McKenna has held numerous leadership positions in both the public and private sector. He currently serves as Deputy Chair of TD Bank where he is responsible for supporting its customer acquisition strategy, particularly in the area of wholesale and commercial banking.

From 1987 to 1997, Mr. McKenna served as Premier of New Brunswick, having earned three consecutive majority governments, including the historic victory in 1987 of all 58 seats in the legislature. The McKenna government significantly improved the province’s standard of living and quality of life. Among other accomplishments, it balanced budgets, pioneered e-government services, attracted innovative industry clusters and improved educational outcomes. McKenna also played a central role on the national stage as a lead advocate for the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement and other initiatives.

Then-Prime Minister Paul Martin nominated McKenna to serve as Canadian ambassador to the United States of America in 2005 where he navigated contentious bilateral issues related to trade and security. In 2006, he resigned this position upon change of national government.

In the private sector, McKenna is in wide demand as a corporate director. He currently serves as Chair of Brookfield Asset Management and is on the board of Canadian Natural Resources. He has also been Chair of the Board of CanWest Global and served on the Boards of Noranda, Shoppers Drug Mart, General Motors, Air Canada and UPS.

McKenna is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, and completed his coursework for a post graduate degree in Political Science at Queen’s University before leaving to accept a Beaverbrook scholarship to attend the University of New Brunswick Law School. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2008.