Léon Balcer

The Hon.
Léon Balcer
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Trois-Rivières
In office
1949–1965
Preceded by Wilfrid Gariépy
Succeeded by Joseph-Alfred Mongrain
Personal details
Born (1917-10-13)October 13, 1917
Trois-Rivières, Quebec
Died March 22, 1991(1991-03-22) (aged 73)
Sainte Foy, Quebec
Political party Progressive Conservative (1949-1965)
Independent (1965)
Cabinet Solicitor 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)

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

He was born on October 13, 1917 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 Prime Minister 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.

Footnotes

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