Diane Stratas

Diane Rose Stratas
Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre
In office 22 May 1979 – 18 February 1980
Preceded by	New riding
Succeeded by	Norm Kelly
Personal details
Born	28 December 1932 (1932-12-28) (age 78) Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s)	William
Profession	Businesswoman

Diane Rose Stratas (born 28 December 1932) was a Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons. She was a businesswoman and community service volunteer by career. The middle daughter of immigrants from Kastri, Greece who lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she is married to retired veterinarian, William J. Stratas. In December 2009, her second son, David Stratas, was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, based in Ottawa.

Public service

Diane Stratas represented the newly formed Ontario constituency of Scarborough Centre, which she won by a comfortable margin in the 1979 federal election. In September 1979, she was appointed by Prime Minister Joe Clark as Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State, David MacDonald. After serving one term, the 31st Canadian Parliament, she was defeated in the 1980 federal election by Norm Kelly of the Liberal Party. Following this defeat, she was elected national secretary of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.^[1] She did not run for federal office in the 1984 federal election but instead supported the candidacy of Pauline Browes.^[2]

Stratas was the first woman of Greek-Canadian heritage elected to Canada's House of Commons.^{[citation needed]} She also was one of only two female MPs in the Progressive Conservative government of 1979-1980, the other being Secretary of State for External Affairs, the Hon. Flora MacDonald.

In early 1987, she was appointed to the national Refugee Status Advisory Committee but resigned within three months, citing concerns that her position resulted from "political patronage" and that federal policy was presenting additional difficulties for refugees.^[3]

Recognition and honours

In 1992, Diane Stratas was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in recognition of her contribution to public service and community.^{[citation needed]} In 1994 she was recognized with a Lifetime Women's Achievement award by the Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ Cherry, Zena (14 August 1981). "Zoe shows style at Greek luncheon". The Globe and Mail. p. P13. 
2. ^ "Tories nominate Browes for Scarborough Centre". The Globe and Mail. 1 June 1984. p. M4. 
3. ^ Ward, Olivia (30 August 1987). "Canada's refugee system called 'irrational'". Toronto Star. p. A21. 

External links

• Diane Stratas - Parliament of Canada biography

Persondata
Name	Stratas, Diane Rose
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	28 December 1932
Place of birth	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Date of death
Place of death