prime minister

About the life of JOE CLARK
At the age of 39, Joe Clark became the youngest Prime Minister of Canada in 1979. Joe Clark and his minority government were defeated after just nine months in power on a non-confidence motion on a budget of tax increases and program cuts.

After losing the 1980 election, Joe Clark stayed on as Leader of the Opposition. When Brian Mulroney took over as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1983 and then Prime Minister in 1984, Joe Clark continued as an effective Minister of External Relations and Minister for Constitutional Affairs. Joe Clark left politics in 1993 to work as an international business consultant, but returned as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1998 to 2003.

Prime Minister of Canada:

1979-80

Birth:June 5, 1939 in High River, Alberta

Education:

BA - Political Science - University of Alberta
MA - Political Science - University of Alberta


ABOUT THE LIFE OF LOUIS LAURENT
Laurent was an apolitical lawyer when he went to Ottawa in 1941 to be Minister of Justice and Mackenzie King's Quebec lieutenant "temporarily" until the end of the war. St. Laurent did not retire from politics until 1958.

The post-war years were prosperous in Canada, and Louis St. Laurent expanded social programs and began many mega-projects. While the influence of Britain on Canada was gradually decreasing, the influence of the United States on Canada grew.
Prime Minister of Canada:

1948-57

Highlights as Prime Minister:

Newfoundland joined Canada 1949
Trans-Canada Highway Act 1949
Canada was a founding member of NATO 1949
Canada contributed troops to UN force in Korea 1950-53
Canada played a role in resolving Suez Crisis 1956
St. Lawrence Seaway started construction 1954
introduced equalization payments to distribute federal taxes to provincial governments 1956
introduced universal old age pensions
provided funds for hospital insurance
created Canada Council 1956
Birth and Death:

Born on February 1, 1882 in Compton, Ontario
Died on July 25, 1973 in Quebec City, Quebec
Education:

BA - St. Charles Seminary, Sherbrooke, Quebec
LL.L - Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec
Professional Background:

Corporate and constitutional lawyer
Law professor
President of the Canadian Bar Association 1930-32
Counsel, Rowell-Sirois Commission on Dominion-Provincial Relations