George Baker (politician)

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George S. Baker, PC (born September 4, 1942) is a Canadian politician and member of the Senate.

Baker was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1974 election as the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for Gander—Twillingate, Newfoundland and Labrador. He was re-elected in every subsequent election (representing Gander—Grand Falls after 1988) until his appointment to the Senate on the recommendation of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2002.

Although a popular and articulate MP, he was hurt by the tradition of appointing no more than one Canadian Cabinet minister from Newfoundland at a time, and by his reputation as a maverick who said what he thought rather than what the party leadership would like him to say. Fred Mifflin's and Brian Tobin's appointments to cabinet following the 1993 election meant Baker had to remain on the backbench. Tobin's resignation from the cabinet to become Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador opened the way for Baker to be appointed as Minister of Veterans Affairs. But when Prime Minister Chrétien lured Tobin back to Ottawa for the 2000 election, Baker was removed from Cabinet. He was appointed to the Senate in 2002.

The treatment of Baker echoed that of James McGrath during the Mulroney years. A popular and talented MP, McGrath would have likely been in cabinet had a seat not been given to John Crosbie.

[edit] External links

• Synopsis of federal political experience from the Library of Parliament

26th Ministry - Government of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet Post
Predecessor	Office	Successor
Fred Mifflin	Minister of Veterans Affairs (1999–2000)	Ron Duhamel
Parliament of Canada
Preceded by John Lundrigan	Member of Parliament for Gander—Twillingate 1974-1988	Succeeded by last member
Preceded by first member	Member of Parliament for Gander—Grand Falls 1988-2002	Succeeded by Rex Barnes
Preceded by Raymond Squires, Liberal	Senators from Newfoundland & Labrador 2002-present	Succeeded by incumbent

	Newfoundland and Labrador Caucus serving in the 39th Canadian Parliament.
Senators	George Baker (Lib), Ethel M. Cochrane (Con), Joan Cook (Lib), George Furey (Lib), William H. Rompkey (Lib)
Members of Parliament	Gerry Byrne (Lib), Norman E. Doyle (Con), Loyola Hearn (Con), Fabian Manning (Con), Bill Matthews (Lib), Todd Russell (Lib), Scott Simms (Lib)