Jack Hare

Jack Hare (born June 8, 1920) is a former Canadian politician, agrologist and professor.

Political career

Hare was the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for the Winnipeg-area riding of St. Boniface for one year. He was elected in a 1978 by-election in what was considered a safe Liberal seat after being defeated in the 1974 federal election by Revenue minister Joseph Guay.Simpson, Jeffrey, "Last Grit seat in Manitoba Trudeau is Liberal albatross in St. Boniface", "Globe and Mail", September 26, 1978] Hare won, in part by capitalizing on the dislike of Trudeau by anglophone votersSimpson, Jeffrey, "Tories gain two seats, NDP one", "Globe and Mail", October 17, 1978] in a riding that has a significant francophone population"Liberals near extinction as PCs, NDP fight in West", "Globe and Mail", May 23, 1979] and claimed that French Canadians followed instructions from their parish priests on how to vote.Simpson, Jeffrey, "What's the mood of the nation? Watch 3 key ridings," "Globe and Mail", October 16, 1978] Hare's victory was the first time the Tories won the riding since the 1958 election landslide by John Diefenbaker's Conservatives. The by-election (one of 15 held on the same day across the country) was seen as a litmus test for the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau.

Nevertheless, Hare was defeated in the 1979 federal election despite the defeat of Trudeau's government by Joe Clark's Progressive Conservatives. Joe Borowski, co-ordinator of the anti-abortion group Campaign Life claimed that his group's work was the main reason for Hare's defeat. [Rusk, James, "Abortion activists push policies ...", "Globe and Mail", February 12, 1980]

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