Joan Neiman

The Hon. Joan Bissett Neiman
Senator for Peel, Ontario
In office September 1, 1972 – September 9, 1995
Appointed by	Pierre Trudeau
Personal details
Born	September 9, 1920 Winnipeg, Manitoba
Nationality	Canadian
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Clemens Michael Neiman
Relations	Edgar Douglas Richmond Bissett, father
Children	Dallis, Patricia & David
Residence	Horseshoe Valley
Alma mater	Mount Allison University, Osgoode Hall Law School now at York University
Profession	lawyer
Committees	Chairperson, Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (1980-1983) Chairperson, Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (1983-1984 & 1986-1988) Chairperson, Special Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide (1994-1996)
Religion	Unitarian

Joan Bissett Neiman (born September 9, 1920) is a retired Canadian senator.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the daughter of Edgar Douglas Richmond Bissett, she served in the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service during World War II retiring as a lieutenant commander. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Allison University and was called to the Ontario Bar. A lawyer, she was summoned to the Senate of Canada for the Ontario senatorial division of Peel on the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1972. A Liberal, she served until her mandatory retirement in 1995. She was chair of the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs for eight years. She was chair of the Special Senate Committee on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Selected as Chair of Human Rights for Interparliamentary Union being 1st Canadian to be so honoured. Served as a Team Member of The Dalhousie Health Law Institute End of Life Project.

In 2006, she was appointed by Premier Dalton McGuinty to the Citizens Panel on Increasing Organ Donations.

She is the oldest living Canadian senator.

References

• Joan Neiman – Parliament of Canada biography
• "McGuinty Government Creates Citizens Panel To Help Increase Organ Donation". Government of Ontario.