Claude Wagner facts for kids

Claude Wagner (April 4, 1925 – July 11, 1979) was an important Canadian judge and politician from Quebec. He had many different jobs during his career. He worked as a lawyer for the government, taught law, and was a judge. He also served in both Quebec and Canadian politics.

Early Life and Start in Law

Claude Wagner was born in Shawinigan, Quebec, in 1925. His father was a violinist who came from Romania. His mother was French-Canadian.

In 1963, Claude Wagner became a judge in a court called the Sessions Court. This was an early step in his legal career.

Political Career in Quebec

Soon after becoming a judge, Wagner entered politics. In 1964, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Quebec. This is like being a Member of Parliament, but for the province of Quebec. He was re-elected in 1966.

During his time in Quebec politics, he became known for his "law-and-order" approach. This means he believed in strict rules and strong enforcement of laws. He held important roles in the Quebec government, including:

• Solicitor General
• Attorney General
• Minister of Justice

He served in these roles under Quebec Premier Jean Lesage.

Moving to Federal Politics

In 1970, Wagner tried to become the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party, but he did not win. After this, he left provincial politics and went back to being a judge.

However, he soon entered federal politics. In 1972, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He represented the area of Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot. As an MP, he was part of the Opposition in the Canadian Parliament. He was elected again in 1974.

Leadership Race and Senate Appointment

After the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Robert Stanfield, stepped down, Claude Wagner decided to run for the leadership in 1976. Many people in the party thought that having a leader from Quebec would help them win more support in that province. His "law-and-order" reputation also attracted many supporters.

During the leadership race, some information came out about money given by his supporters to help his campaign. Even with this, Wagner led the voting for the first three rounds. However, Joe Clark eventually won the leadership by a small number of votes in the fourth round.

In 1978, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed Claude Wagner to the Senate of Canada. The Senate is another part of Canada's Parliament. He accepted this role and continued to be a Progressive Conservative. He passed away from cancer the next year, in 1979, at the age of 54.

His Son's Career

Claude Wagner's son, Richard, also became a judge. He was appointed to the highest court in Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada, in 2012. In 2017, Richard Wagner became the Chief Justice of Canada.

In 2021, Richard Wagner temporarily took on the role of Administrator of Canada. This happened when the Governor General of Canada resigned. He held this important position until a new Governor General was appointed.

See also

• Quebec federalism
• List of Mauriciens