- Léon Balcer
Léon Balcer (
October 13 1917 –March 22 1991 ) was a Canadian politician. [ [http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=c17c9546-ec4f-47a5-95a7-27b20ceb25f5&Language=E&MenuID=Lists.Members.aspx&MenuQuery=http%3A%2F%2Fwww2.parl.gc.ca%2FParlinfo%2FLists%2FMembers.aspx%3FParliament%3D%26Riding%3D%26Name%3Db%26Party%3D%26Province%3D%26Gender%3D%26New%3DFalse%26Current%3DFalse%26Picture%3DFalse Léon Balcer, ParlInfo, Parliament of Canada] ]Background
He was born on
October 13 ,1917 inTrois-Rivières, Quebec and was a lawyer.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.
Cabinet Member
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 'sQuebec lieutenant and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. [ [http://www.empireclubfoundation.com/details.asp?FT=yes&SpeechID=1167 The Repatriation of Our Constitution, The Empire Club Addresses, October 22, 1964] ]plit with the Conservatives
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." [ [http://www.polyscopique.com/blog/archives/2005_09.html Social conservatism and the Conservative Party's electoral prospects, Le Blog de Polyscopique, September 12, 2005] ] 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
* [http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/key/bio.asp?lang=E&query=2758&s=M Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament]
* [http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000476 Léon Balcer] atThe Canadian Encyclopedia
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