John Sylvain

John Sylvain (June 7, 1924 – August 16, 2011) was a Montreal insurance executive who served as a Senator in Canada. Born in Britain, Sylvain was appointed to the Senate by Brian Mulroney in 1990. He had a successful career as the head of United Provinces Insurance Co. Ltd. and also served as a director on the Canadian Development Investment Corporation. Sylvain played a key role in the 1988 federal election as the campaign manager for Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Robert Layton. As a Senator, he served as the deputy chair of the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce. Sylvain retired early from the Senate on February 1, 1996, three years before the mandatory retirement age of 75.