Allister Wilbert Surette (born September 21, 1961) is a Canadian politician who has served as a senator from Nova Scotia since December 2024.
[2] Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Surette was raised in the Acadian community of Lower West Pubnico.
[3] Surette entered provincial politics in the 1993 election, defeating Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Neil LeBlanc in the Argyle riding.
[8][9] Between 1998 and 2003, he was chief executive officer of the Collège de l'Acadie, which was the only French-language community college in Nova Scotia.
On December 19, 2024, he was summoned to the Senate of Canada by Governor General Mary Simon, on the advice of prime minister Justin Trudeau.
[20] In July 2012, Surette was one of three members appointed to serve on an expert panel reviewing the Regional Development Authority model.
[24] In October 2020, Surette was named the Federal Special Representative, a neutral third-party whose responsibility was to communicate with and rebuild trust between commercial and Indigenous fishers in Southwestern Nova Scotia.
[27] In October 2008, Surette was awarded the Order of La Pléiade which recognizes parliamentarians and community leaders for outstanding work in advancing francophone causes.