[4] Fairbairn worked as a journalist in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa before being hired as a legislative assistant to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1970.

On June 29, 1984, just prior to leaving office, Trudeau recommended her for appointment as a Liberal senator for Alberta, her home province.

[6][7] She served in cabinet until 1997, after which she took on the role as Special Advisor on Literacy to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

[10] It was subsequently reported that Fairbairn had been declared legally incompetent in February but had continued voting in the Senate until June.

[13] The Fairbairn case led to calls for the Senate to establish rules to address similar situations should they arise.