Prime Ministers of Canada
MUNDY - 2009
John A. MACDONALD
 Prime Minister 1867 – 1873;
 Also 1878 – 1891
 Party: CONSERVATIVE
 Background: Lawyer
 Rise 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
 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
Alexander MACKENZIE
 Issues during term:
 Building of intercontinental railway
 Economic depression plaguing Canadian
businesses
John J.C. ABBOTT
Prime Minister 1891 – 1892
Party: CONSERVATIVE
Background: Lawyer
Rise to Power: Interim replacement for Macdonald after
his death.
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,
Abbott after their deaths.
Reason for Leaving: Died while visiting Windsor Castle
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
replacement for 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
 Reason for Leaving: Federal election loss
Wilfred LAURIER
 Prime Minister 1896 – 1911
 Party: LIBERAL
 Background: Lawyer
 Rise to Power: Won 1896 election in wake of
series of ineffective Conservative governments
Wilfred LAURIER
 Issues during term:
 Naval Act
 South African War (Boer War)
 Alaskan Boundary Dispute
 Manitoba Schools Question
 Reciprocity with U.S.
Robert BORDEN
 Prime Minister 1911 – 1920
 Party: UNION
 Background: lawyer,
o businessman
 Rise to Power: Defeated Laurier in 1911 election on
platform of opposing reciprocity
Robert BORDEN
 Issues during term:
 World War I
 Conscription Issue
 Military Voters Act
 Wartime Elections Act
 War Measures Act
 War profiteering – Sam Hughes
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 in wake of King-Byng
crisis, but quickly fell due to Minority
Government status
William Lyon Mackenzie KING
 Prime Minister:
 1921 – 1926; 1926 – 1930;
 1935 – 1948
 Party: LIBERAL
 Background: journalist
 Rise 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
 Unemployment Insurance 1940
 Person`s Case
Richard Bedford (R.B.) BENNETT
 Prime Minister: 1930 – 1935
 Party: 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.) BENNETT
 Issues during term:
 World depression – massive unemployment in
Canada
 Drought on prairies
 “New Deal”-style policies (little effect on
unemployment)
 Canadian Wheat Board established
Louis St. LAURENT
 Prime Minister: 1948 – 1958
 Party: 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”
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 – 1963
 Party: PROGRESSIVE
CONSERVATIVE
 Background: Lawyer
 Rise 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
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
Pierre Elliott TRUDEAU
 Prime Minister:
1968 – 1979; 1980 – 1984
 Party: LIBERAL
 Background: 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 TRUDEAU
 Issues 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)
 Nationalization of industries, restricting foreign investment
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:
 Attempted to change Petro Canada’s status (to
private company)
 Failed to gain confidence vote in Parliament for
federal budget – leads to downfall
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)
Brian MULRONEY
 Prime 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
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
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 CHRETIEN
 Issues during term:
 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)
For more information:
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