Renowned lawyer and former Saskatchewan MLA, Anthony Merchant, has passed away at the age of 81 in his Regina home on Thanksgiving Monday. His son, Evatt Merchant, confirmed the news. A funeral service is planned in Regina for next week.
Merchant’s esteemed legal career commenced when he was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1968. Subsequently, he obtained admission to the Alberta bar in 1976 and the British Columbia bar in 1977. He later established his own law firm, Merchant Law Group, which now operates in various provinces across Canada.
In 1975, Merchant was elected as an MLA for Regina Wascana under the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan, serving until 1978. Gord Kuski, a friend and fellow lawyer of Merchant, praised his entrepreneurial drive, which propelled his success in class-action lawsuits. Known as Canada’s class-action king, Merchant secured significant settlements for his clients, earning a reputation for his relentless work ethic and legal prowess.
Notably, Merchant’s law firm represented former residential school students in a landmark class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government, resulting in a substantial settlement in 2006. More recently, his firm achieved a $6-million settlement in a case against Ticketmaster.
Throughout his career, Merchant faced controversy, including a suspension by the Law Society of Saskatchewan in 2020 for pressuring a residential school survivor to use settlement funds for unrelated legal fees. Despite challenges, Merchant’s legacy as a prominent figure in Canadian law remains undeniable.
Merchant, survived by his wife Pana and three sons who followed in his legal footsteps, received numerous accolades during his lifetime, including the Queen’s Counsel designation and several medals. His passing marks a significant loss in the legal community, leaving a lasting impact on Saskatchewan’s legal landscape.