He joined the faculty of Loyola College in 1968 as a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and has taught since that time. He entered politics as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 1980 federal election, but was defeated in the riding of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. During Joe Clark's leadership convention candidacy in 1983, Danis was his chief Quebec organizer.
In 1991, Danis was promoted to the position of Minister of Labour. He left Cabinet with Mulroney's retirement in 1993, and was not a candidate in the 1993 election. He left politics and returned to academia. He became vice-dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science at Concordia. In 1996, he became vice-rector of the university, and Secretary General in 1998. In 2005, he was named vice-president of external relations and secretary-general.[1]
In 2013, he was hired to defend Michael Applebaum, the former mayor of Montreal, on corruption charges.[2]
1Until 1909, the office of the minister of Labour was a secondary function of the Postmaster-General of Canada. W. L. M. King was the first to hold the office independently.
2The office of Minister of Employment and Immigration, and Minister of Labour were abolished and the office of Minister of Human Resources Development went in force on July 12, 1996. Under the new provisions, a Minister of Labour may be appointed. However, when no Minister of Labour is appointed, the Minister of Human Resources Development shall exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Minister of Labour.