Léon Balcer
| The Hon. Léon Balcer | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Trois-Rivières | |
|
In office 1949–1965 | |
| Preceded by | Wilfrid Gariépy |
| Succeeded by | Joseph-Alfred Mongrain |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
October 13, 1917 Trois-Rivières, Quebec |
| Died |
March 22, 1991 (aged 73) Sainte Foy, Quebec |
| Political party |
Progressive Conservative (1949-1965) Independent (1965) |
| Cabinet |
Solicitor General of Canada (1957–1960) Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys (Acting) (1957) Secretary of State of Canada (Acting) (1960) Minister of Transport (1960–1963) Secretary of State of Canada (Acting) (1962) |
Léon Balcer, PC (October 13, 1917 – March 22, 1991) was a Canadian politician.[1]
He was born on October 13, 1917 in Trois-Rivières, Quebec and was a lawyer by profession.
Member of the House of Commons
He was one of only three Progressive Conservative candidates who were elected to the House of Commons in 1949 from Quebec, representing the district of Trois-Rivières. He was re-elected in the 1953, 1957, 1958, 1962, and 1963 elections.
Balcer held numerous ministerial positions in the cabinet of John Diefenbaker including Solicitor General of Canada (1957–1960), and Minister of Transport (1960–1963). He also briefly acted as Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys (Acting), and Secretary of State of Canada (Acting).
He was Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's Quebec lieutenant and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.[2]
A few months before the 1965 election, he left his party and sat as an Independent, claiming that "there is no place for a French Canadian in the party of Mr. Diefenbaker." [3] He did not run for re-election in that year.
Provincial politics
Balcer ran as a Liberal candidate in the district of Trois-Rivières in 1966, but was defeated by Union Nationale incumbent Yves Gabias.
Death
Balcer died on March 22, 1991.
Footnotes
External links
| Ministers of Railways and Canals (1879–1936) | |
|---|---|
| Ministers of Transport (1936–2006) | |
| Ministers of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (2006–15) | |
| Ministers of Transport (2015–present) | |
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1The department was eliminated in 1993 when the government was reorganized. The position of Secretary of State for Canada was not legally eliminated until 1996 when its remaining responsibilities were assigned to other cabinet positions and departments, particularly the newly created position of Minister of Canadian Heritage. |
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1The office of Solicitor General was abolished and the office of Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness was in force April 4, 2005. |