John Paul Manley, PC, OC (born January 5, 1950) is a Canadian lawyer, businessman and politician. He served as Liberal Member of Parliament for Ottawa South from 1988 to 2004, and a Cabinet Minister from 1993 to 2003. He is presently President and CEO of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
Manley was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He attended Bell High School, located in Ottawa. He received a BA from Carleton University in 1971 and an LL.B. from the University of Ottawa in 1976. He also studied at the University of Lausanne. He clerked under Bora Laskin, the Chief Justice of Canada, and was called to the Ontario bar in 1978. Manley's early career was in tax law at the firm Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall LLP. Manley is an accomplished marathoner. He is married to Judith Manley with whom he has three children: Rebecca, David and Sarah.
He was first elected as an MP in the 1988 election. When the Liberals came to power under Jean Chrétien following the 1993 election he became Minister of Industry. During his time in Industry, Manley was a staunch supporter of Canada-based research and development, and also of increased technology use in public schools. In particular, he felt that the so-called "wired classroom" would help to equalize the gap between urban and smaller, rural schools. These initiatives were partially aimed at combating the "brain drain", and Manley himself stated that "Canada needs to pursue policies that will make it a magnet for brains, attracting them from elsewhere and retaining the ones we have."
Plot
John Manley one day learns to his great sorrow that Caroline Hastings, whom he was going to ask to be his wife, is already betrothed to another. Five years later he is summoned to the bedside of a dying friend, who asks him to take care of his daughter. He promises, takes her to his home and places her in the care of his housekeeper. The girl awakens Manley from his moody state, and, one night as she is playing and singing at the piano, be impulsively kisses her, but retreats, embarrassed for what he has done. One day Caroline returns to his home and tries to awaken his old love for her, but is met by coldness. As she is pleading with him, Ethel, Manley's protégée, comes upon them. Thinking that she has stumbled upon a love scene, she goes to her room and is caught by Manley writing a note of her leave-taking. As he is reading the letter she notices the photo of Caroline lying torn to pieces on the floor, and Manley tells her what she has already guessed.