Past and future PMs fight by-elections

1942 — Former Prime Minister Arthur Meighen, who has returned as Conservative party leader, is unable to find a way into the House of Commons after being defeated in the South York by-election by CCF candidate J.W. Noseworthy

Having more luck in a concurrent by-election in Quebec East is Louis St. Laurent, William Lyon Mackenzie King’s handpicked Liberal candidate. The Quebec lawyer was appointed Minister of Justice in 1941 and becomes King’s new Quebec lieutenant, replacing the late Ernest Lapointe who previously represented Quebec East riding.

King’s youth denies him a raise

1902 — Minister of Finance William S. Fielding suggests that William Lyon Mackenzie King’s youth and the semi-status of the Labour department doesn’t entitle the young civil servant to a full deputy minister’s salary of $3,200. Two days later, Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s cabinet agrees to pay the salary after King threatens to quit.

Seventeen years later, King beats Fielding to become leader of the Liberal party and a year after that Fielding serves as King’s first Finance minister.

A British subject I was born—a British subject I will die

1891 — Sir John A. Macdonald launches his last election campaign with a speech appealing to the country’s patriotism as a way of countering the Liberal proposal for a U.S. commercial treaty. It includes a declaration that becomes one of the best remembered quotes from a very quotable man.

“As for myself, my course is clear,” he claims. “A British subject I was born—a British subject I will die. With my utmost effort, with my latest breath, will I oppose the ‘veiled treason’ which attempts by sordid means and mercenary proffers to lure our people from their allegiance.”

Borden reluctantly agrees to lead Conservatives

1901 –Nova Scotia MP Robert Borden is chosen by the Conservatives to succeed Sir Charles Tupper as party leader. Borden is as reluctant to accept the position as the party is to give it to him. However, unlike other prominent Conservatives, he has no enemies within the party. With Parliament opening today, having a new leader in place is imperative.

Borden tells the caucus he’ll do the job for one year and that a committee must be formed to to find a new leader. Both requirements are soon forgotten as Borden leads the party through a decade in Opposition.

Dief’s control starts to wane

1965 — The Progressive Conservative caucus reaffirms its support of the party leader, former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. Despite growing opposition to his leadership, the party executive reaffirms the decision the next day.

Last year, the party adopted a policy of two nations –  a concept vehemently opposed by Diefenbaker. For another two and a half years, he defies the growing grumbling about his leadership. He attempts to stay on by running in the September 1967 leadership race, but polls fifth on the first ballot. He gets no higher before dropping off after the third ballot. Robert Stanfield becomes the new leader.

Veteran Tory, Tupper, is back in the House

1896 – Sir Charles Tupper, who forestalled the resignation of seven members of Sir Mackenzie Bowell’s cabinet by agreeing to return to Canadian politics as Secretary of State, wins a Nova Scotia by-election to become MP for Cape Breton.

It’s a doubly happy day for the old warhorse because his grandson Victor Gordon Tupper is born. Twenty-one years later, ‘Gordie’ dies fighting at Vimy Ridge in the Great War.

Parliament burns down

1916 — Someone leaves a smouldering cigar in a wastepaper basket in a Centre Block reading room on Parliament Hill and a few hours later the building is destroyed.

Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden is in his office when the alarm is sounded. He escapes by crawling down the hall on his hands and knees. Opposition leader Sir Wilfrid Laurier is just leaving a concert when he hears about the fire. He hurries to the Hill in time to see the flames lighting up the night sky.

Mackenzie becomes bedridden

1892 –Former PM Alexander Mackenzie slips and falls in front of his Toronto home. Prematurely frail at age 70, he is bedridden for the next few months leading up to his death.

He is still a Member of Parliament, having reluctantly agreed to continue running for re-election in York East. For the past decade his voice has been steadily deteriorating and he has virtually stopped speaking in the House.

Bowell’s newspaper business destroyed by fire

1863: Belleville’s The Intelligencer newspaper building is on fire and someone hurries to the home of the publisher, Mackenzie Bowell, who watches helplessly as the entire block goes up in flames.

Bowell had moved into the new location only a few months ago and just two weeks ago bought new printing presses worth $2,000. Despite that, he quickly news more new presses and within three weeks he reopens his newspaper business on Front Street. Bowell did not miss a single issue during the interim.

King attempts to mediate in telephone strike

1907 — The deputy minister of labour, William Lyon Mackenzie King, tries to resolve a strike by nearly 400 telephone operators.

The Bell operators claim their workload is unrealistic while the company insists they increase their shifts from five to eight hours. Unable to shake Bell’s determination, King encourages Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s government to establish a Royal Commission to examine the case more closely.