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Derek Hudson Burney
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Derek Burney was born in 1939 in Fort William, Canada, and graduated from Queen’s University with a BA and MA in Political Science. He was a Canadian diplomat and served in federal public service (1963-1993). Burney was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. Burney’s first posting was in Japan. Returning to Ottawa from Japan, he served as senior departmental assistant to the Secretary of State for External Affairs. He served as an Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea (1978-1980). Returning to Ottawa from South Korea, he served as Assistant Undersecretary for Trade and Economic Policy. He served as Ambassador to the United States (1989-1993). Burney played an integral role during the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement (1989) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (signed 1992). Burney was Canada’s first Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (1987-1989).
Post Burney’s public service career, he worked for Bell Canada (1993-1999), deviated for a short period to federal government service for Stephen Harper’s team (2006), and then served as Chancellor of Lakehead University (2013-2017). As Chancellor of Lakehead University, Burney was an extreme fundraiser, which supported student scholarships and University economy. Burney, and his wife, Joan Burney, donate funds to Lakehead University to enrich new research. Their donations created the The Derek and Joan Burney Postdoctoral Fellowship.
- Government of Canada. Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. https://www.international.gc.ca/trade-commerce/trade-agreements-accords-commerciaux/agr-acc/united_states-etats_unis/fta-ale/background-contexte.aspx?lang=eng
- Government of Canada. North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-23.8/FullText.html
- Wikidata. Derek Burney. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5261862
- Lakehead University. Derek Burney fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/derek-burney-fonds
- Lakehead University. Derek and Joan Burney's Lakehead Legacy. https://www.lakeheadu.ca/alumni/giving/donors/donor-stories-archive/node/6425
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Born in Fort William, Ontario.
Studied in Kingston, Ontario.
Operated in Ottawa, Ontario.
Operated in Seoul, South Korea.
Operated in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
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Authority record created January 1, 2025.
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English