Канадалық саяхаткер және дипломат Аллан Рок

Canadian politician

Allan Michael Rock (born August 30, 1947) is a Canadian lawyer, former politician, diplomat and university administrator. He was Canada's ambassador to the United Nations (2004–2006) and had previously served in the Cabinet of Jean Chrétien, most notably as Justice Minister (1993–1997) and Health Minister (1997–2002). During his time in government, he was accused of ethical improprieties after accepting free hospitality from the Irving family, with whom his department had financial dealings. Rock was appointed as president and vice chancellor of the University of Ottawa by its board of governors on June 3, 2008. His term began on July 15, 2008, and it ended on July 1, 2016. Rock was subsequently designated president emeritus. His presidency was marred by controversies over freedom of speech.

Allan Rock was born to James Thomas Rock and Anne (née Torley) Rock in Ottawa, where he was raised and educated through secondary school. He received a B. A. in 1968 and an LL. B. in 1971 at the University of Ottawa, and he began a 20 year career as a trial lawyer where he specialized in civil, commercial, and administrative litigation. Rock served as president of the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) for the 1969 70 year. He had previously served on the executive of the Arts students association and briefly as SFUO External Commissioner. In June 1969, Rock met John Lennon during the latter’s famous "bed in" in Montreal, and invited him to Ottawa to attend a "peace conference”, which he accepted. Following a press conference in Ottawa, Rock drove Lennon and wife Yoko Ono around the city in Rock’s modest Volkswagen. At Lennon’s request, they went to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s official residence at 24 Sussex Drive; however, Trudeau was not home, so the legendary Beatle wrote a note on the spot and left it at the door. Six months later, Lennon returned to Ottawa and finally met Trudeau. On graduation from law school, Rock joined Fasken & Calvin, a noted Bay Street law firm in Toronto, where he worked in the litigation department with Walter Williston, Ron Rolls, and Bill Graham. He rose to become partner. Rock and Rolls co taught the civil procedure section of the Bar Admission course (bringing a frown to many young lawyer's face). Rock became the 52nd Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada, serving from 1992 until 1993.

In 1993, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre and named Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. He later endorsed Stéphane Dion's successful bid to lead the party.

On December 12, 2003, Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of Paul Martin, appointed Rock as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations. Rock resigned his seat in the House of Commons and took office in early 2004. As Canada's ambassador to the UN, Rock spoke to the UN General Assembly on April 13, 2004, encouraging participation of the member nations of the United Nations on the matter of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. As the voice of Canadians at the United Nations, Rock was an outspoken advocate of human rights, human security, and reforming the UN. Rock remained in office until June 30, 2006 at Harper's request. Upon his departure, he called for an overhaul of the UN. Rock submitted a report about child soldiers in Sri Lanka on January 15, 2007 to the UN.

Rock announced earlier in June 2006 that he would be moving to Windsor, Ontario, to resume his legal career with Harvey Thomas Strosberg at Sutts, Strosberg LLP. Rock continued to publish op eds around international issues, including the conduct of UN peacekeepers, the Syrian refugee crisis, and the G20.

It was announced in May 2008 that Rock would be appointed as the next president of the University of Ottawa. Rock was an alumnus of the university and had graduated in 1970 with a law degree. In 1969, during his time as a student at the University of Ottawa, Rock was President of the SFUO (the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa), then the undergraduate student union for the University of Ottawa Ten months later, the task force released a report making 11 recommendations, which Rock promised to implement, saying "that his school will become a 'beacon' dedicated to eradicating issues of sexual violence." His term ended on July 1, 2016, and Rock was succeeded by Jacques Frémont.

On February 26, 2009, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association wrote to Rock to express its concern over his administration's banning of a student poster and to ask that he redress the situation with a public declaration.

Amid much media attention, right wing commentator and author Ann Coulter was scheduled to give a talk at the University of Ottawa on March 23, 2010. The talk was cancelled following student protests at the talk venue. The organizers of the event blamed the university and the protesters. Rock in turn responded in a university press release suggesting that the organizers may have needlessly cancelled the talk. At the centre of the controversy was a letter sent to Coulter before her scheduled talk in Ottawa, signed by the Vice President (Academic), which warned that Coulter could be arrested for hate speech. The letter was condemned as a violation of academic freedom by the Canadian Association of University Teachers and was widely criticized in the media. Three weeks after the cancelled event, Rock publicly stated having pre approved the letter as the institution's official response.

In 2017, Rock was made a member of Order of Ontario.