13 Facts About Deborah Coyne

Deborah Margaret Ryland Coyne was born on February 24,1955 and is a Canadian constitutional lawyer, professor, and author.

Deborah Coyne is the cousin of journalist Andrew Coyne and actress Susan Coyne, and the niece of former Bank of Canada governor James Elliott Coyne.

Deborah Coyne graduated from Queen's University with a degree in economics and history in 1976.

Deborah Coyne received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University in 1979 and a Master of Philosophy from University of Oxford in international relations in 1982.

Deborah Coyne was an employee in the Prime Minister's Office of John Turner, before spending two years teaching constitutional law at the University of Toronto Law School; she has worked for the Business Council on National Issues, the Ontario Health Service Appeal and Review Board, and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Deborah Coyne took a role in opposing the Meech Lake Accord, a comprehensive package of constitutional amendments designed to gain the province of Quebec's formal acceptance of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Deborah Coyne was among many prominent Liberals who disagreed with the Accord, including Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Donald Johnston and Jean Chretien, although the issue split the federal Liberal caucus.

Deborah Coyne was a founding member of the Canadian Coalition on the Constitution, a grass-roots group that opposed the agreement.

From 1989 to 1991, Deborah Coyne served as constitutional advisor to Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells.

Deborah Coyne led one of the "No" committees in the campaign and spoke widely against the deal.

Deborah Coyne was nominated in March 2007 as the Liberal Party of Canada candidate in Toronto Danforth but withdrew later in the year.

On June 27,2012, Deborah Coyne announced that she would be a candidate for leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, during the Party's 2013 leadership contest, which was won ultimately by Justin Trudeau.

Since the 2015 federal election, Deborah Coyne has stepped away from partisan politics and no longer holds a membership in any political party.