Larry Smith

Larry Smith (born 1951 in Hudson, Quebec) is a Canadian athlete and businessperson. He is currently the president of the Montreal Alouettes.

Related Topics:
1951 - Hudson, Quebec - Athlete - Businessperson - Montreal Alouettes

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He graduated from Bishop's University with a degree in economics before going on to be a professional player in the Canadian Football League and was later the league's commissioner. Earned a Bachelor of Civil Law from McGill University in 1976, having undertaken his studies for law while playing pro football. He moved the floundering Baltimore Stallions to Montreal and resurrected them as the reborn Montreal Alouettes for the CFL's 1997 season. He served as president from 1997 to 2001 and has again served in that role since March 2004. He became president and publisher of the Montreal Gazette newspaper from 2002 to 2004.

Related Topics:
Bishop's University - Economics - Canadian Football League - Bachelor of Civil Law - McGill University - 1976 - Baltimore Stallions - Montreal - Montreal Alouettes - 1997 - 2001 - March - 2004 - Montreal Gazette - 2002

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He considered running for leader of the then new Conservative Party of Canada in 2004 and was widely reported by Canadian press at the time to be on the verge of entering the race before finally announcing he would not be a candidate. It was rumoured he took a pass on the race because Belinda Stronach had better financing and had attracted most of the support of Quebec Red Tories close to former prime minister Brian Mulroney.

Related Topics:
Running for leader - Conservative Party of Canada - 2004 - Belinda Stronach - Quebec - Red Tories - Prime minister - Brian Mulroney

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Smith is often compared to Mulroney. Prior to Mulroney's election as leader in 1983, both had similar resumes. Smith, like Mulroney, is a bilingual anglophone Quebecker with lots of business experience but little political experience. Some hope that, after Stephen Harper's term as leader is complete, that Smith can resurrect the party's winning coalition of Quebeckers and Western Canadians that was so successfull in the 1958, 1984 and 1988 elections.

Related Topics:
1983 - Bilingual - Anglophone - Quebecker - Stephen Harper - Western Canadians - 1958 - 1984 - 1988 elections

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