Tony Merchant, a towering figure in Canadian legal history, passed away on October 13, 2025, at the age of 81 after a battle with cancer. He died at his home in Regina, Saskatchewan, surrounded by family, including his wife, former Liberal senator Pana Merchant.

Merchant founded Merchant Law Group LLP in 1986, establishing himself as a leading class-action litigator in Canada. He was instrumental in securing the $1.9 billion Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in 2006, the largest class-action settlement in Canadian history. Representing thousands of former students, Merchant’s legal efforts were pivotal in compelling the federal government and churches to address the legacy of residential schools.

Beyond his legal career, Merchant briefly served as a Saskatchewan MLA and ran

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