24 Facts About Frank McKenna

Frank McKenna is currently Deputy Chairman of the Toronto-Dominion Bank.

Frank McKenna served as Canadian Ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2006.

Frank McKenna served as the 27th premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997, winning every seat in the province in his first election.

Frank McKenna was born on January 19,1948, in Apohaqui, New Brunswick, one of eight children of Olive and Joseph McKenna.

Frank McKenna began graduate studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, but after working for a stint with Allan MacEachen, he took MacEachen's advice that most politicians are lawyers and enrolled in law school at the University of New Brunswick.

Frank McKenna garnered a place in contemporary Acadian folklore as the defence lawyer in the high-profile widely publicized murder case of famous New Brunswick boxing champion, Yvon Durelle.

Frank McKenna became leader of the provincial Liberals in 1985, and won one of the largest electoral victories in Canadian history in the 1987 election when his party won every seat in the legislature.

Frank McKenna introduced a sophisticated public relations operation which included the use of controversial video news releases.

Frank McKenna was criticized for increasing the number of communications personnel on the government payroll but countered this complaint by pointing out that the primary government communications agency, Communications New Brunswick, had been depoliticized.

Frank McKenna was mentioned as a possible Ambassador to the US to succeed Michael Kergin after Paul Martin took power.

On January 5,2005, Prime Minister Paul Martin's office confirmed that Frank McKenna would be the 21st Ambassador to the United States.

On February 22,2005, Frank McKenna told reporters Canada was already a part of the US National Missile Defense program through an amendment to the NORAD agreement made on August 5,2004, which granted US access to NORAD's missile warning systems explicitly for use in NMD.

Frank McKenna generated controversy after giving a luncheon speech on September 29,2005, to a Toronto business club.

On January 25,2006, Frank McKenna offered his resignation as Ambassador, writing to Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper that he wished to be relieved of his duties, but offering to stay on until his successor was chosen.

Frank McKenna was succeeded as ambassador by Michael Wilson on March 13,2006.

Since leaving politics in 1997, Frank McKenna served for a brief time on the Security Intelligence Review Committee.

Frank McKenna has been touted several times as a potential Atlantic Canadian minister in the cabinets of Jean Chretien and Paul Martin.

Frank McKenna expressed some interest in running in the 2004 federal election but announced he would not do so because of the lack of an available riding in the Moncton, New Brunswick, area.

Frank McKenna did not want to push aside any incumbent Liberal member of Parliament.

On January 30,2006, Frank McKenna confirmed earlier reports that he was not running for the Liberal leadership to replace Paul Martin, who announced his resignation as party leader on the January 23,2006 election night.

Frank McKenna was appointed as Deputy Chair, TD Bank Financial Group effective May 1,2006.

Frank McKenna was appointed to the board of Brookfield Asset Management effective August 2006, and subsequently Chair of the Board since August 2010.

Frank McKenna is referenced in the book Clinton Cash by Peter Schweizer.

Frank McKenna is described as a 'good friend of both Bill and Hillary Clinton.