Allan Gotlieb

Allan Ezra Gotlieb, public servant (born 28 February 1928 in Winnipeg, MB; died 18 April 2020 in Toronto, ON). A Rhodes scholar and international lawyer with a reputation for intellectual toughness, Gotlieb joined the Department of External Affairs in 1957, a year after being called to the Bar of England (Inner Temple). He was assistant undersecretary and legal adviser 1967-68. A member of Pierre Elliott Trudeau's inner circle, he was deputy minister of the new Department of Communications (1968-73) and of Manpower and Immigration (1973-76).

He returned to External Affairs as undersecretary 1977-81 and was ambassador to Washington (1981-89), where he played a highly visible role under both Liberal and Conservative prime ministers. He is the author of Disarmament and International Law (1965), Canadian Treaty-Making (1968), Impact of Technology on International Law (1982) and I'll Be With You in a Minute, Mr. Ambassador (1989).

Gotlieb was Chairman of the Canada Council for the Arts (1989-94) and in 1989 he was W.L. Mackenzie King Visiting Professor at Harvard University. He received the Outstanding Achievement Award, Government of Canada in 1983. Gotlieb was also chairman of Burston Marsteller Canada and a consultant to the Stikeman Elliott law firm. He was married to Sondra Gotlieb.