James Scott Peterson (July 30, 1941 – May 10, 2024) was a Canadian politician. He was a Liberal member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1980 to 1984 and again from 1988 to 2007, representing the northern Toronto riding of Willowdale. He served in the cabinets of Jean Chrétien, as Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions), and Paul Martin, as Minister of International Trade.
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Personal background
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he had a Doctor of Civil Law in International Law from McGill University, a Master of Laws from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Ontario. As well, he had diplomas from Hague Academy of International Law in The Hague and La Sorbonne in Paris.
Peterson was one of three sons of Clarence and Laura Marie Peterson, who were both from Saskatchewan. They moved to Ontario during the Great Depression where Clarence worked as a salesman for several years before establishing a wholesale electronics business, C.M. Peterson Co. Ltd, in 1944 in London. He was elected an alderman on London City Council in the early 1950s and was the provincial Liberal candidate in London North in 1955 against future Premier of Ontario John Robarts, and again as a federal Liberal candidate in 1963 in London.
Both of Jim Peterson's brothers entered politics; David Peterson served as premier of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, while Tim Peterson served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2007, first as a Liberal and later as a Progressive Conservative.