Senator John Godfrey

This 1988 oral history interview with Senator John Godfrey covers his distinguished legal and political career spanning several decades. Born in Port Credit in 1912, Godfrey came from a prominent legal family – his father John Milton Godfrey was a Supreme Court justice who practiced with the Toronto firm Robinette, Godfrey & Phelan and served as Chairman of the Ontario Securities Commission. Godfrey followed in his father’s footsteps, practicing law and becoming deeply involved in Liberal Party politics and fundraising.

Godfrey’s most significant contributions included his pioneering work in political fundraising reform, where he established the Treasury Committee and championed the 50-50 principle for corporate donations to both major parties. He played a key role in developing the Election Expenses Act and campaign finance reform. His business career included extensive involvement with mutual funds, particularly as president of the United Accumulative Fund, where he fought against self-dealing practices. Appointed to the Senate in 1973, Godfrey also served as chairman of the Canadian Tax Foundation and worked on social security reform.

Throughout the interview, Godfrey reflects on his personal philosophy as a ‘small l Liberal’ with a strong social conscience, emphasizing his commitment to charitable giving and ethical business practices. His career demonstrates the intersection of law, politics, and business in mid-20th century Canada, highlighting his role in modernizing political fundraising and maintaining ethical standards in corporate governance.

This description was written by AI and may contain some inaccuracies.