Robert Layton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert "Bob" E. J. Layton, PC (December 25, 1925 - May 9, 2002) was a Canadian politician.

Robet Layton was born in Montreal, and graduated from McGill University in 1947. He spent much of his professional career running an engineering consulting business in Montreal, Quebec.

The son of former Quebec cabinet minister Gilbert Layton, he became a political activist for the Liberal Party of Canada, running unsuccessfully for the party's nomination for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons.

In the 1980s, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, and was elected to the Federal Parliament in the 1984 election from the Quebec riding of Lachine. He served as Minister of State for Mines in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1986.

He was re-elected to the House of Commons in the 1988 election, and retired from politics in 1993.

Layton married Doris Elizabeth Steeves, a great-niece of father of confederation William Steeves.

Layton's son, Jack Layton is the current leader of the New Democratic Party.