Léon Balcer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Hon.
Léon Balcer
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Trois-Rivières |
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| In office 1949–1965 |
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| Preceded by | Wilfrid Gariépy |
| Succeeded by | Joseph-Alfred Mongrain |
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| Born | October 13, 1917 Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | March 22, 1991 (aged 73) Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada |
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Léon Balcer was an important Canadian politician. He was born in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, on October 13, 1917. He worked as a lawyer before becoming a politician. He passed away on March 22, 1991.
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Serving in the House of Commons
Léon Balcer was elected to the House of Commons in 1949. This is where Canada's main laws are made. He was one of only three members from Quebec elected for the Progressive Conservative (PC) party that year. He represented his hometown area, Trois-Rivières.
He was re-elected many times, serving in the House of Commons until 1965. From 1957 to 1963, his party was in charge of the Government of Canada. Before and after that, he was part of the Official Opposition, which challenges the government.
Important Government Roles
Léon Balcer held several big jobs in the government under Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.
- He was the Solicitor General of Canada from 1957 to 1960. This role is like a chief legal advisor to the government.
- He also served as the Minister of Transport from 1960 to 1963. This job involves looking after things like roads, railways, and airports.
- He briefly acted as Minister of Mines and Technical Surveys and Secretary of State of Canada.
During this time, Balcer was a very important person for Prime Minister Diefenbaker. He was known as the "Quebec lieutenant" and Deputy Leader of the PC Party. This meant he was the main voice for Quebec within the party.
Leaving the Party
A few months before the 1965 election, Léon Balcer decided to leave the Progressive Conservative Party. He became an independent politician, meaning he didn't belong to any party. He felt that French Canadians like him didn't have a place in Mr. Diefenbaker's party anymore.
In 1964, Balcer was part of a small group of PC members who disagreed with Diefenbaker. They supported a new flag of Canada during a big debate, which was led by the Liberal Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson. Balcer did not run for re-election in 1965.
Provincial Politics
After his time in federal politics, Balcer tried to get elected in Quebec's provincial government. In 1966, he ran as a Liberal candidate for the area of Trois-Rivières. However, he lost that election.
Death
Léon Balcer passed away on March 22, 1991.
