Charles Gavan Power | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of National Defence for Air | |
| In office 23 May 1940 – 26 November 1944 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Angus Lewis Macdonald |
| Associate Minister of National Defence | |
| In office 23 May 1940 – 26 November 1944 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Postmaster General | |
| In office 19 September 1939 – 22 May 1940 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Norman Alexander McLarty |
| Succeeded by | James Lorimer Ilsley (Acting) |
| Minister of National Defence | |
| Acting 11 June 1940 – 4 July 1940 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Norman McLeod Rogers |
| Succeeded by | James Ralston |
| Minister of Pensions and National Health | |
| In office 23 October 1935 – 18 September 1939 | |
| Prime Minister | W. L. Mackenzie King |
| Preceded by | Donald Matheson Sutherland |
| Succeeded by | Ian Alistair Mackenzie |
| Senator forGulf | |
| In office 28 July 1955 – 30 May 1968 | |
| Appointed by | Louis St. Laurent |
| Preceded by | Joseph Arthur Lesage |
| Succeeded by | Paul Lafond |
| Member of Parliament forQuebec South | |
| In office 17 December 1917 – 27 July 1955 | |
| Preceded by | Riding created |
| Succeeded by | Francis Gavan Power |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1888-01-18)18 January 1888 Sillery,Quebec, Canada |
| Died | 30 May 1968(1968-05-30) (aged 80) Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Resting place | Saint Patrick's Cemetery,Sillery, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | |
| Relations |
|
| Children | 3, includingFrank |
| Alma mater | Université Laval |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Canada |
| Branch/service | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1915-1918 |
| Rank | ActingMajor |
| Battles/wars | Battle of the Somme |
| Awards | Military Cross |
Charles Gavan "Chubby" PowerMC PC (18 January 1888 – 30 May 1968) was aCanadianpolitician andice hockey player. Many members of his family, including his father, two brothers, a son and a grandson, all had political careers; two of his brothers also played ice hockey.
Born inSillery, Power playedice hockey while studying law. From 1906, he played for theQuebec Bulldogs of theEastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). A proficient scorer, he scored four goals in one game in 1908 and five goals in a game in 1909.
Power served overseas inWorld War I, first as a private in theWestmount Battalion then to3rd Battalion (Toronto Regiment), CEF ascaptain and then as an actingmajor with the14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment), CEF.[1] He was wounded during theBattle of the Somme. He was awarded theMilitary Cross for gallantry during military operations.
He entered politics in the1917 federal election in which he was elected as a "Laurier Liberal" during theConscription Crisis of 1917.
In 1935, Power was appointed minister of pensions and health in theLiberalcabinet of Prime MinisterWilliam Lyon Mackenzie King.
DuringWorld War II, he served as ActingMinister of National Defence (1940) andMinister of National Defence for Air (1940 to 1945) and was responsible for expanding theRoyal Canadian Air Force. His opposition toconscription led him to resign from the cabinet during theConscription Crisis of 1944, after the government passed anOrder in Council to send conscripts overseas. Power sat as an "Independent Liberal" for the duration of the war and was re-elected as an Independent Liberal in the1945 federal election. He then rejoined the party and ran to succeed King in the1948 Liberal leadership convention but came a poor third.
Charles Power retired from theHouse of Commons in 1955. He was appointed to theSenate on 28 July 1955 and served until his death in 1968.[2]
His father,William Power, was also a Member of Parliament from Quebec, retiring in 1917. His brotherJames was also an ice hockey player. Another brother,Joe, was also an ice hockey player, as well as aLiberal member of theLegislative Assembly of Quebec. Still another brother,William, became aLiberal member of theLegislative Council of Quebec. His sonFrank Power also became aLiberal Member of Parliament, as did his grandsonLawrence Cannon, who also became aConservative cabinet minister and later asCanadian Ambassador to France.
| Parliament of Canada | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None - new position | Minister of National Defence for Air 1940-1945 | Succeeded by |
