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Eric Kierans | |
|---|---|
 Kierans, 1966 | |
| Minister of Communications | |
| In office 1 April 1969 – 28 April 1971 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Côté (acting) |
| Postmaster General of Canada | |
| In office 6 July 1968 – 31 March 1969 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Jean-Pierre Côté |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Côté |
| Member of Parliament forDuvernay | |
| In office 25 June 1968 – 29 October 1972 | |
| Preceded by | Riding created |
| Succeeded by | Yves Demers |
| Member of theNational Assembly of Quebec forNotre-Dame-de-Grâce Montréal–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (1963–1966) | |
| In office 25 September 1963 – 31 May 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Earl |
| Succeeded by | William Tetley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eric William Kierans (1914-02-02)2 February 1914 |
| Died | 10 May 2004(2004-05-10) (aged 90) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Party | Liberal |
| Other political affiliations | New Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
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Eric William KieransPC OC (2 February 1914 – 10 May 2004) was aCanadianeconomist and politician.
Eric Kierans was born on 2 February 1914, inMontreal toIrish immigrant parents. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood and attendedLoyola College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in commerce.[1]
After graduation, Kierans worked for several years in the family fur and leather business before leaving to pursue a career in politics. He joined theLiberal Party of Canada and was elected to theHouse of Commons in 1962, representing the riding ofSaint-Laurent.
During his early life, Kierans was a passionate supporter of the cooperative movement and believed in the power of community organizing. He was also committed tosocial justice issues and worked to improve the lives of working-class Canadians.
He died on 10 May 2004, at the age of 90.
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After serving as director of the school ofcommerce atMcGill University and president of theMontreal Stock Exchange, Kierans entered provincial politics in 1963. Nicknamed the "Socialist Millionaire," he was appointedMinister of Revenue and thenMinister of Health in theQuebec Liberal government ofQuebec PremierJean Lesage during theQuiet Revolution.
Kierans became president of the Quebec Liberal Party and clashed with former cabinet minister and colleagueRené Lévesque in 1967, daring him to give up the idea ofQuebec separatism or quit the Liberal Party. Lévesque later quit the Liberal Party and established theMouvement Souveraineté-Association, which became Quebec's leading sovereigntist party as theParti Québécois.
Initially a critic ofWalter L. Gordon'seconomic nationalism, Kierans' experience in government changed his mind, and he became a believer in the need for state intervention in the economy.
In 1968, Kierans entered federal politics running unsuccessfully for the leadership of theLiberal Party of Canada at its1968 leadership convention. He was elected to theHouse of Commons in the1968 federal election. Kierans served as Postmaster-General and Minister of Communications in thecabinet ofPrime MinisterPierre Trudeau. He did not run for re-election in the1972 election, partly as a result of his criticisms of Trudeau's economic policy.
Kierans called for Canada to leave theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1969. He argued that the organization might have served a useful purpose on its initial formation but had since become anachronistic.[2] Some others with the Trudeau government agreed with Kierans, but others strongly disagreed. The Trudeau government ultimately kept Canada in NATO but reduced Canada's troop deployment.
He considered running for the leadership of theNew Democratic Party in 1975 but declined in favour ofEd Broadbent.
After leaving politics, Kierans taught at McGill andDalhousie University. In the 1980s, he became a familiar voice appearing withDalton Camp andStephen Lewis as part of a weekly political panel onPeter Gzowski'sCanadian Broadcasting Corporation radio show,Morningside.
In 1994, he was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada.
There is an Eric William Kieransfonds atLibrary and Archives Canada.[3]
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