Léon Balcer

Léon Balcer, PC (October 13, 1917 – March 22, 1991) was a Canadian politician.[1]

The Hon.

Léon Balcer
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Trois-Rivières
In office
1949–1965
Preceded byWilfrid Gariépy
Succeeded byJoseph-Alfred Mongrain
Personal details
Born(1917-10-13)October 13, 1917
Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada
DiedMarch 22, 1991(1991-03-22) (aged 73)
Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative (1949-1965)
Independent (1965)
CabinetSolicitor 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)

He was born 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 Conservative party leader 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.

Archives

There is a Léon Balcer fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[4]

Footnotes
  1. Léon Balcer, ParlInfo, Parliament of Canada
  2. "The Repatriation of Our Constitution, The Empire Club Addresses, October 22, 1964". Archived from the original on September 18, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  3. Social conservatism and the Conservative Party's electoral prospects, Le Blog de Polyscopique, September 12, 2005 Archived December 13, 2005, at Archive.today
  4. "Léon Balcer fonds, Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved August 31, 2020.
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