William Doody - Definition

C. William Doody (born February 26 1931) is a member of the Canadian Senate representing Newfoundland and Labrador. Doody was active in provincial politics and was first elected to the Newfoundland House of Assembly in 1971 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador. He became minister of mines, agriculture and resources when Frank Moores formed his government in 1972. In 1975, Doody became the province's finance minister and when Brian Peckford became Premier of the province, Doody was made minister of mines and energy.

In October, 1979, Doody left provincial politics and was appointed to the Senate by then Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Joe Clark in 1979. He served as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate from September 17, 1984 until 1991.

When, in December 2004, the Progressive Conservatives merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada, Doody decided not to join the new formation. Instead, he continues to sit in the Senate as a member of a three person Progressive Conservative caucus consisting of himself, Norman Atkins and Lowell Murray. He is scheduled to retire from the Senate in 2006.