About Robert Stanfield:
From a wealthy family, Robert Stanfield was a moderate conservative. A slow-speaking Maritimer with a dry sense of humour, he was a strong proponent of social order. As Premier of Nova Scotia, Robert Stanfield made reforms in education and health care, and also attracted investment to the province. When he switched to federal politics, he ran up against the onslaught of Pierre Trudeau and Trudeaumania and remained Leader of the Official Opposition. Robert Stanfield is often called "the best prime minister Canada never had."
Premier of Nova Scotia:
1956-67
Leader of the Official Opposition - House of Commons:
1967-76
Birth:
April 11, 1914 in Truro, Nova Scotia
Death:
December 16, 2003 in Ottawa, Ontario
Education:
- Dalhousie University
- Harvard University
Professional Background of Robert Stanfield:
- Lawyer
- Chairman of the Institute for Research on Public Policy 1983-87
- Chairman of the Commonwealth Foundation 1986-91
Political Affiliation:
Progressive Conservative Party
Political Career of Robert Stanfield:
- Robert Stanfield joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia in 1946 and was elected leader in 1948. The party had no seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly at the time.
- In 1956, Robert Stanfield led the Progressive Conservatives to power and became Premier of Nova Scotia.
- Robert Stanfield and the Progressive Conservatives won the next three provincial elections in Nova Scotia.
- In 1967, Robert Stanfield left provincial politics to run for leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. The party was in chaos under the leadership of John Diefenbaker, and Robert Stanfield won the leadership race on the fifth ballot.
- While a popular and moderate federal leader, Robert Stanfield could never compete with the Liberal leader Pierre Trudeau and Tudeaumania and he remained Leader of the Official Opposition.
- In 1975, Robert Stanfield announced that he would resign as leader of the Progressive Conservatives.
- Robert Stanfield was replaced by Joe Clark as leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party in 1976. He stayed on as a member of parliament until 1979.
