Robert Layton (politician)

Robert Edward John Layton PC (December 25, 1925 May 9, 2002) was a Canadian politician who served as the minister of State from 1984 to 1986.

Robert Layton
Minister of State (Mines)
In office
September 17, 1984  June 29, 1986
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
MinisterPat Carney
Preceded byBill Rompkey
Succeeded byGerald Merrithew (as Minister of State (Forestry and Mines))
Member of Parliament
for Lachine—Lac-Saint-Louis
(Lachine; 1984–1988)
In office
September 4, 1984  October 25, 1993
Preceded byRoderick Blaker
Succeeded byClifford Lincoln
Personal details
Born
Robert Edward John Layton

(1925-12-25)December 25, 1925
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedMay 9, 2002(2002-05-09) (aged 76)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Resting placeWyman United Church, Hudson, Quebec, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseDoris Elizabeth Steeves
Children4 (including Jack Layton)
Parent
ResidenceMontreal
Alma materMcGill University
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionConsulting engineer

Early career

Robert Layton was born in Montreal, the son of Norah Lestelle (née England) and former Quebec cabinet minister Gilbert Layton. He graduated from McGill University in 1947. He spent much of his professional career running an engineering consulting business in Montreal, Quebec.

He became a political activist for the Liberal Party of Canada, running unsuccessfully in 1972 for the party's nomination for the riding of Vaudreuil.

Member of Parliament

In the 1980s, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party, and was elected to the Parliament of Canada in the 1984 election from the Quebec riding of Lachine, covering suburban communities on the west end of the island of Montreal. He was re-elected in the 1988 election. Layton served as Minister of State for Mines in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1986, after which he served as National Caucus Chairman until 1993 when he decided to retire from politics after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Family

Layton married Doris Elizabeth Steeves, a grand-niece of Father of Confederation William Steeves.

Robert Layton had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jack Layton became a leader of the federal New Democratic Party and Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. He is the grandfather of Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton.

Layton died in Montreal on May 9, 2002.

References

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