MONTREAL – When Liberal Senator Yoine Goldstein faced mandatory retirement last summer, speculation began here as to whom Prime Minister Stephen Harper would select to become the new de facto ‘Jewish’ senator from Quebec. While there was no shortage of high-profile candidates from within the organized Jewish community, nobody seemed to have educator Judith Seidman on their short list.

“Those who have been involved in the Conservative Party for years know full well who she is,” said top Harper advisor Senator Leo Housakos, who was appointed last winter.

Last week, in her first interview with any media since being appointed, Seidman told the Jewish Tribune she was just as surprised as anyone else to get the nod.

However, she was quick to point out that she is not a newcomer to politics nor to the Conservative Party. In fact, she served as co-chair in Quebec for Harper’s successful Conservative leadership campaign in 2003.

“I remember meeting Prime Minister Harper for the first time,” Seidman  said. “The Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance had decided to merge and it had been arranged for us to meet at a West Island restaurant. There was a terrible snow storm and I did not think he would make it from Ottawa, nor would I. But we did. I was impressed with him the moment we sat down to talk. He answered all of my questions and concerns and he was so clear in his responses. I could tell right then this was a man of integrity and intellect.”

While Seidman notes she took on the role with Harper’s leadership campaign out of respect for him and the party, she never dreamed that six years later she’d be appointed to the Senate.

“It is not something I had planned for or even thought about,” she said. “This was an enormous opportunity presented to me and a wonderful chance to really make a difference. I am extremely humbled.”

Seidman recognizes that many members of the Jewish community were probably surprised by her appointment.

“I am not part of the establishment,” she acknowledged. “I do have a lot of friends in the Jewish community. Judaism has always been part of my life in a spiritual and cultural way. I look forward to the opportunity to meet representatives from the different organizations, but it needs to be emphasized that I am a senator who happens to be Jewish, not necessarily a Jewish senator. My role is to serve all Quebecers and Canadians.”

Referring to her own background, Seidman said she grew up in the Montreal suburb of St. Laurent as a post-war baby to  typical Jewish parents struggling to make a living.

“They themselves were the children of immigrant parents who came here from Eastern Europe,” she said. “We were active at our local synagogue, Beth Ora. As a teen I was  a member of B’nai Brith.”

Seidman’s interest in politics began in Grade 8 at Sir Winston Churchill High School (now known as Lauren Hill) when, as a member of the Political Social Club, she helped bring about a field trip to Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

“We sat on the balcony and watched question period,” she recalled. “I guess this shows that I was a political person even back then.”

By profession Seidman is an educator, researcher and advisor to universities, government and not-for-profit agencies in the fields of health and social services. Trained as an epidemiologist and social worker,  she has been a consultant in applied research in the health field and was senior researcher at the University Institute of Social Gerontology of Quebec. She  served as project coordinator for the Canadian Study of Health and Aging at the University of Ottawa and was research associate/fellow at the Montreal Neurological Hospital/Institute’s Department of Social Work.   

Over the years she has also been active in community service, including as a member of the board of directors of the Allan Memorial Institute Advancement Fund, member of the McGill Society of Montreal, chair of the 75th anniversary fundraising committee for the McGill School of Social Work and co-chair of the Whiteside Taylor Preschool Co-operative in Baie D’Urfe. Married, she has  one daughter and one grandchild.

Seidman is taking her new duties very seriously.

“I am now a full-time senator,” she said. “I have spent a lot of time and energy learning the ropes these past few weeks to better understand my role in the legislative process.”

Already Seidman has been appointed to two senate committees: Energy, Environment and Natural Resources and Official Languages.

“I have spent the bulk of my career in the health and social services sector,” she said. “Issues there are naturally closest to my heart. As time moves on I hope to become more active on a variety of matters.”