James Armstrong Richardson

The Honourable James Armstrong Richardson, PC (born March 28, 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, died May 17, 2004) was a Canadian Cabinet minister under Pierre Trudeau, and a Winnipeg businessman.

Related Topics:
The Honourable - PC - March 28 - 1922 - Winnipeg - Manitoba - May 17 - 2004 - Canadian Cabinet - Pierre Trudeau - Winnipeg

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After attending Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Richardson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served as an anti-submarine pilot based in Iceland and Labrador during World War II.

Related Topics:
Queen's University - Kingston - Ontario - Royal Canadian Air Force - Submarine - Iceland - Labrador - World War II

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Following the war, Richardson joined the family owned grain company, James Richardson and Sons, and became Chief Executive Officer and chairman in 1966.

Related Topics:
Chief Executive Officer - 1966

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He left the company to enter politics, winning a seat in the Canadian House of Commons in the 1968 election as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South. Richardson easily defeated future provincial cabinet minister Bud Sherman, his Progressive Conservative opponent.

Related Topics:
Seat - Canadian House of Commons - 1968 election - Liberal - Member of Parliament - Winnipeg South - Cabinet minister - Bud Sherman - Progressive Conservative

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Richardson was appointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as a minister without portfolio on June 6, 1968. He also served as acting Minister of Transport for five days in early 1969, and was promoted to Minister of Supply and Services on June 5 of the same year. From November 27, 1972, until October 12, 1976, he was Minister of National Defence.

Related Topics:
Cabinet - Prime Minister - Pierre Trudeau - Minister without portfolio - June 6 - 1968 - Minister of Transport - 1969 - Minister of Supply and Services - June 5 - November 27 - 1972 - October 12 - 1976 - Minister of National Defence

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Richardson was re-elected without difficulty in the 1972 election. In the 1974 election, he defeated future Premier of Manitoba Sterling Lyon by only 1,266 votes.

Related Topics:
1972 election - 1974 election - Premier of Manitoba - Sterling Lyon

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Richardson was known as a "business Liberal", on the right wing of the party. He resigned from Cabinet in 1976 to protest the government's implementation of official bilingualism. In 1978, he left the Liberal caucus entirely and crossed the floor to sit as an Independent MP for the remainder of his term. He was not a candidate in the 1979 election.

Related Topics:
Official bilingualism - 1978 - Caucus - Crossed the floor - 1979 election

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After leaving elected politics, Richardson helped found the Canada West Council, and served on a number of corporate boards. He also founded James Richardson International, a grain and oilseeds distributing company.

Related Topics:
Canada West Council - Corporate boards

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In 1987, Richardson announced his support for the newly-created Reform Party of Canada. He is the brother of Agnes Benidickson, former Chancellor of Queen's University.

Related Topics:
1987 - Reform Party of Canada - Agnes Benidickson - Queen's University

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