OUTCOMES:

PLEASE USE THIS INFORMATION FOR YOUR TIMELINE. YOU MAY ALSO BE REQUIRED TO KNOW SOME OF

THIS INFORMATION FOR A TEST.

Prime Ministers of Canada

John A. MACDONALD

Prime Minister 1867 – 1873 Again in 1878 – 1891

Party: CONSERVATIVEBackground: LawyerRise to Power: Ran Canada East-West government from 1840’s to Confederation (as Minister of Justice).

John A. MACDONALD

Issues During Term: Pacific Scandal – took bribes from U.S. Railway barons in return for

campaign funds. This lead me to resign. Confederation – undertook and led 3 conferences National Policy - protectionist economic policy Manitoba Schools Question Red River, North-West Rebellions – oversaw execution of Riel BC’s entry into Confederation Purchased Rupert’s Land from HBC Land Treaties over Prairies

Alexander MACKENZIE

Prime Minister 1873 – 1878

Party: LIBERAL

Background: Newspaper Editor

Rise to Power: Became PM in wake of Pacific Scandal and resignation of John A. Macdonald, however, McDonald came up in 1878.

Alexander MACKENZIE

Issues During Term: Building of intercontinental railway. Economic depression plaguing Canadian businesses. Died while in office, and John A. McDonald was re-

elected.

John A. MACDONALD

Prime Minister 1878 – 1891 (for the secondtime).

MacDonald that this point was known as a drunkand was plagued by scandal. He died of a strokeIn 1891. He

National Policy Railway to the Pacific North-West RebellionHanging of Louis Riel

John J.C. ABBOTT

Prime Minister 1891 – 1892

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Lawyer

Rise to Power: Interim replacement for Macdonald after his death. First PM to be born in Canada.

Reason for Leaving: Retirement due to ill health

John J.C. ABBOTT

Issues During Term: Manitoba Schools Question. Image Cleanup after scandals (Macdonald, etc.).

Sir John Sparrow THOMPSON

Prime Minister 1892 – 1894

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Lawyer

Rise to Power: Interim replacement for Macdonald and Abbott after their deaths. First Roman Catholic PM.

Reason for Leaving: Died while visiting Windsor Castle. He was visiting England to be knighted.

Sir John Sparrow THOMPSON

Issues During Term: Manitoba Schools Question Image Cleanup after scandals (Macdonald, etc.)

Thompson was first Catholic PM; many in party and Ontario were wary, given Protestantism and patriotic sentiment towards Britain at time.

Sir Mackenzie BOWELL

Prime Minister 1894 – 1896

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Newspaper Editor

Rise to Power: interim replacementfor Thompson.

Reason for Leaving: Lost support of own party.

Sir Mackenzie BOWELL

Issues During Term: Manitoba Schools Question

Bowell was considered by party members to be a weak leader; worse that he was a senator and could not face Opposition in House of Commons.

Staunch member of Orange Order (Protestant)

Sir Charles TUPPER

Prime Minister May-July 1896

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Physician

Rise to Power: Interim replacement for Bowell after his removal by Conservatives. One of the Fathers of Confederation. Premier of Nova Scotia 1864-1867.

Reason for Leaving: Federal election loss

Issues During Term: He never sat in Parliament while PM, but did aim to defeat the Patrons of Industry.

Wilfred LAURIER

Prime Minister 1896 – 1911Party: LIBERALBackground: LawyerRise to Power: Won 1896 election in wake of series of

ineffective Conservative governments.

First PM of French ancestry. Longest unbroken tenure as PM – 15 years. Started the Canadian Navy.

“ The 20th Century will belong to Canada”

Wilfred LAURIER

Issues During Term: Naval Act South African War (Boer War) Alaskan Boundary Dispute Manitoba Schools Question Reciprocity with U.S. Removed the right for status natives to vote.

Robert BORDEN

Prime Minister 1911 – 1920

Party: UNION

Background: lawyer, • businessman

Rise to Power: Defeated Laurier in 1911 election on platform of opposing reciprocity

Robert BORDEN

Issues During Term: World War I Income Tax to pay for the war efforts. This was

suppose to be a temporary measure. Conscription Crisis – military draft which the French

Quebecois opposed.

Arthur MEIGHEN

Prime Minister:1920 – 1921; 1926

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: lawyer

Rise to Power: Took over as leader when Borden retired

Arthur MEIGHEN

Issues During Term: Quick to be defeated in 1921 election Came to power in 1926 again in wake of King-Byng

crisis, but quickly fell due to Minority Government status.

Grand Trunk Railway placed under control of Canadian National Railways.

William Lyon Mackenzie KING

Prime Minister:1921 – 1926 1926 – 19301935 – 1948

Longest total duration as PM in the whole of the Commonwealth – 22 yrs.

Party: LIBERALBackground: JournalistRise to Power: Popularly elected as “people’s choice”

moving towards greater Canadian autonomy and independence.

William Lyon Mackenzie KING

Issues During Term: WWII King-Byng Affair Old Age Pension 1926 Birth of Social Safety Net Great Depression Many interesting stories about how he would contact the

dead through séances. Lifelong bachelor who was connected to prostitutes. Initially thought Hitler was a good man until he met him

in the 1930’s.

Richard Bedford (R.B.) BENNETT

Prime Minister: 1930 – 1935Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Teacher, Lawyer,Businessman

Rise to Power: in face of world depression, King had made comments that his government would not give a “red penny” to any relief efforts. Lost popular support and election to Bennett’s Conservatives.

Richard Bedford (R.B.) BENNETTIssues during term:

World depression – massive unemployment in Canada. While in office he lived in a special suite in the Chateau Laurier Hotel. He was VERY wealthy, and because of this he was not very popular.

Drought on prairies. He fought communism that threatened to take over

Canada. “New Deal”-style policies (little effect on unemployment) Canadian Wheat Board established Only PM buried outside of Canada (England). He left

Canada mad after he lost the elections. He died in the bath tub.

William Lyon Mackenzie KING

Prime Minister: 1935 – 1948 Creation of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation National Film Board of Canada Unemployment Insurance Act of 1940 Nationalization of the Bank of Canada Second World War Conscription Crisis of 1944 Canada's entry into the United Nations Trans-Canada Airlines

Louis St. LAURENT

Prime Minister: 1948 – 1958Party: LIBERAL

Background: lawyer

Rise to Power: After King’s departure, Louis St. Laurent appeared to be logical successor to party – good on TV as “uncle Louis” (nick name).

Louis St. LAURENT

Issues During Term: Newfoundland enters Confederation (1949) Women given equal pay TransCanada pipeline debate. CBC established as Canada’s first TV station Korean War (1950 – 1953) Lester B. Pearson’s peace plan ends Suez Crisis

John DIEFENBAKER

Prime Minister: 1957 – 1963Party: PROGRESSIVE

CONSERVATIVE

Background: LawyerRise to Power: Beat Louis St. Laurent’s government

with promise of “Canada First” and opportunities for all Canadians

John DIEFENBAKER

Issues During Term: St. Lawrence Seaway, Trans-Canada Highway open Avro Arrow project (military jet) scrapped. Hated the new Maple leaf flag that Person brought in after him

in 1965. Great orator First Saskatchewan resident to become PM. First PM with active service in WWI Cuban Missile Crisis Canadian Bill of Rights Allowed status aboriginals to vote in federal elections

1960

Lester PEARSON

Prime Minister: 1963 – 1968

Party: LIBERAL

Background: Teacher

Rise to Power: After working under Louis St. Laurent as various ministers (including as Minister of External Affairs), Pearson was made leader of Liberals after St. Laurent’s loss and Diefenbaker rose to power. Narrowly won 1963 election.

Lester PEARSON

Issues During Term: Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism Canadian Flag unveiled Canada Pension Plan, National Medicare established Auto Pact signed with US Pearson – Johnson conflict over role in Vietnam War Old Age Pensions Former pro baseball player and hockey play in the 1922

Olympics for Britain. Before Pm was in charge of United Nations. Canada Student Loans

Pierre Elliott TRUDEAU

Prime Minister: 1968 – 1979; 1980 – 1984

Party: LIBERALBackground: Lawyer

Rise to Power: During time of Quebec separatism, Trudeau joined Liberals and replaced Pearson; during 1968 election, his charisma and youthful spirit became so popular it was named “Trudeaumania”

Pierre Elliott TRUDEAUIssues During Term:

October Crisis (1970) – War Measures Act enacted Official Languages Act established (bilingualism) Supreme Court acknowledges aboriginal land claims Bill 101 in Quebec made law (Only French to be used) Trudeau visits communist Cuba, visits Castro Montreal is host to Olympic Games Quebec sovereignty referendum (1980) Constitution of Canada patriated (1982)

Patriated – to transfer legislation to the authority of an autonomous country from its previous mother country,

Joe CLARK

Prime Minister: 1979 – 1980

Party: PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

Background: Journalist

Rise to Power: Became leader of PC party with youthful and Western leanings. Won minority government against Trudeau.

Joe CLARK

Issues During Term: Youngest PM ever – 39 Attempted to change Petro Canada’s status (to private

company) Failed to gain confidence vote in Parliament for

federal budget – leads to downfall. Clark’s minority government lost a vote on a gas tax

and fell after less than 8 months. Cane back as a Tory leader in the late 1990’s. Took the Constitution away.

Pierre Elliott TRUDEAU

Prime Minister: 1980 – 1984 Introduction of the NEP Quebec referendum, 1980 Access to Information Act Patriation of the Canadian Constitution Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Canada Health Act Western alienation

John TURNER

Prime Minister: 1984 (June-Sept)

Party: LIBERAL

Background: Lawyer

Rise to Power: After defeating Jean Chretien to become leader of the Liberal Party in the wake of Trudeau’s retirement, Turner automatically became PM until the election later that year (lost to Brian Mulroney).

John TURNER

Issues During Term: Pope John Paul II visits Canada (first pope to do so). Made many patronage appointments to gain support

(but angered Canadians). Was NOT born in Canada – Richmond, Surrey,

England. Never sat in Parliament as PM.

Brian MULRONEYPrime Minister: 1984 – 1993

Party: PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

Background: Lawyer, Corporate Executive

Rise to Power: Working as a Conservative fundraiser since Diefenbaker, he finally decided to run for leadership of party; originally lost to Clark, won later with platform of bringing Quebec into constitution (instead of separating). Beat Turner in election.

Brian MULRONEY

Issues During Term: FTA (Free Trade Agreement) - 1989 NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) - 1991 Meech Lake Accord Charlottetown Accord Gulf War (Iraq) – 1991 Privatization of Crown Corporations, promoted increased

foreign investment . Extremely close to the U.S.A. GST tax of 7% which was unpopular Resigned in 1993 as the most despised leader EVER.

A great friendship with George the First! Go Jays! Go Rangers!(“My boy George owns them!”)

!

I love Daddy

Avril (Kim) CAMPBELL

Prime Minister: 1993 (June-Oct)

Party: PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE

Background: Professor, Lawyer

Rise to Power: Once Mulroney retired with low popularity, Campbell became PM until election. Lost due to her focus on frank realities instead of campaign promises, and her association to the party that many Canadians now hated.

Avril (Kim) CAMPBELL

Issues during term: First Nations sign Umbrella Final

Agreement Ends peacekeeping mission in Cyprus PC party largest election loss – down to 2

seats – she even lost her own seat. Made election campaigns that made fun of

how Jean Chretien talked and looked like. First women PM.

Jean CHRETIEN

Prime Minister: 1993 – 2003

Party: LIBERAL

Background: Lawyer

Rise to Power: Working in various ministry positions for Trudeau, Chretien tried to win leadership but lost first to Turner; won 1993 election after Mulroney/Campbell party lost favour with public.

Jean CHRETIENIssues during term:

Known as the “little guy from Shawinigan”, but he is 6’ 3”.

Worldwide recession Toonie ($2 coin) enters circulation Quebec Referendum (1995) – 50.6% NO New parties formed: Reform Party, Bloc Quebecois Nunavut created (1999) Canadian troops torture civilian in Somalia Canada joins NATO forces in Kosovo Canadarm II placed on International Space Station Massive cutbacks in federal spending Trade missions to China (to increase trade) First and only PM to get a pie in the face.

For more information:

Visit www.prime-ministers.ca

Paul MARTIN JR.

Prime Minister: 2003 – 2006

Party: LIBERAL

Background: Lawyer

Rise to Power: Considered the best finance minster in the history of Canada.

Paul MARTIN Jr.

Issues During Term: Had to resign due to sponsorship scandal. Long feud with Chretien sing losing the 1990

leadership to him. G20 Civil Marriage Act Minority government His father, Paul Martin Sr., is considered among the

founding fathers of Canada’s social safety net.

Stephen Harper

Prime Minister: 2006 – present

Party: CONSERVATIVE

Background: Supreme Court Judge

Rise to Power: The first Supreme Court Judge to ever be appointed to be screened by Parliament first.

Stephen HARPER

Honorable Mention

Jack Layton