Renowned lawyer and former Saskatchewan MLA, Anthony (Tony) Merchant, has passed away at the age of 81 in his Regina residence on Thanksgiving Monday, October 13, as confirmed by his son, Evatt Merchant. A funeral is set to take place in Regina next week.
Merchant’s esteemed legal journey commenced when he was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1968, later expanding to the Alberta bar in 1976 and the British Columbia bar in 1977. Subsequently, he established his law firm, Merchant Law Group, which now operates across multiple provinces including British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
In 1975, Merchant was elected as an MLA for Regina Wascana under the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan, serving until 1978. Known for his entrepreneurial spirit, Merchant delved into class-action lawsuits, earning him the moniker of Canada’s class-action king due to the substantial settlements he secured for his clients.
Merchant’s legal prowess shone in cases such as representing former residential school students in a class-action lawsuit against the Canadian government, resulting in a landmark settlement of nearly $2 billion in 2006. More recently, his firm negotiated a $6 million settlement with Ticketmaster earlier this year.
Despite his legal successes, Merchant faced controversy throughout his career, notably in a custody battle involving fellow MLA Colin Thatcher. His involvement in pressuring a residential school survivor to allocate settlement funds towards unrelated legal expenses led to an eight-month suspension by the Law Society of Saskatchewan in October 2020, later overturned on appeal.
Acknowledged for his unwavering work ethic, Merchant leaves behind a legacy that significantly impacted the legal landscape in Saskatchewan. Survived by his wife, Pana, and three sons who followed in his legal footsteps, Merchant’s contributions were recognized with several prestigious awards and accolades over the years.