Jim Coutts | |
---|---|
Born |
High River, Alberta |
May 16, 1938
Died | December 31, 2013 Toronto, Ontario |
(aged 75)
Nationality | Canadian |
Alma mater |
University of Alberta Harvard School of Business |
Occupation | lawyer, business person |
James Allan "Jim" Coutts CM (May 16, 1938 – December 31, 2013) was a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and former advisor to two prime ministers.
Born in High River, Alberta, he was raised in Nanton, Alberta. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 and a law degree in 1961 from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1968. He was called to Bar of Alberta in 1962.
From 1961 to 1963, he practiced law in Calgary, Alberta. From 1963 to 1966, he was a Secretary to Liberal Prime Minister Lester Pearson. After receiving his MBA, he was a Consultant with McKinsey & Company from 1968 to 1970. From 1970 to 1975, he was a Partner with The Canada Consulting Group. From 1975 to 1981, he was the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.
In 1981, Trudeau appointed Liberal MP Peter Stollery to the Senate so Coutts could run for the Canadian House of Commons in what was thought of as the safe Ontario riding of Spadina. The plan backfired when Coutts narrowly lost to New Democrat Dan Heap despite personal interventions from Trudeau. Coutts ran again, but lost by a heavier margin in the 1984 election.