Tony Merchant, a prominent attorney and former Saskatchewan MLA, has passed away. Evatt Merchant, his son, confirmed the death of the 81-year-old at his residence in Regina on October 13, Thanksgiving Monday. A funeral is set to take place in Regina next week. Beginning his esteemed legal career after being admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1968, Merchant later gained admission to the Alberta bar in 1976 and the British Columbia bar the following year. Subsequently, he established his own law firm, Merchant Law Group, which now operates in several provinces across Canada.
In 1975, Merchant was elected as an MLA in the Regina Wascana riding, representing the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan until 1978. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Merchant’s close friend and lawyer, Gord Kuski, remarked on his success with class-action lawsuits, establishing him as Canada’s class-action king due to his significant settlements for clients. Described as a diligent worker, Merchant was unafraid of legal challenges, embodying a warrior-like approach when advocating for his clients.
Merchant’s legal prowess was exemplified by his firm’s representation of former residential school students in a landmark class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government. The resulting Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement in 2006 led to one of Canada’s largest class-action settlements, totaling almost $2 billion. More recently, Merchant’s firm secured a $6-million settlement in a case against Ticketmaster, finalized earlier this year.
Despite his successes, Merchant faced controversies in his career. Notably, he represented MLA Colin Thatcher in a custody battle with his ex-wife, JoAnn Wilson, and was involved in a criminal case related to the incident. Additionally, Merchant encountered legal trouble when pressuring a residential school survivor to use settlement funds for unrelated legal expenses, leading to a suspension that was later overturned on appeal.
Throughout his life, Merchant received numerous accolades, including the Queen’s Decoration and being named a Queen’s Counsel in 1995. Survived by his wife Pana and three sons who followed his legal path, Merchant’s passing marks a significant change in Saskatchewan’s legal landscape, as he was widely regarded as a prominent figure in the legal community.
