Robert Stanbury

The Honourable
Robert Stanbury
PC QC
Member of Parliament
for York—Scarborough
In office
1965–1978
Preceded byMaurice Moreau
Succeeded byPaul McCrossan
Personal details
Born
Robert Douglas George Stanbury

(1929-10-26)October 26, 1929
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 10, 2017(2017-02-10) (aged 87)
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Political partyLiberal
SpouseMiriam Rose Voelker
RelationsRichard Stanbury, brother
Children4
ProfessionLawyer

Robert Douglas George "Bob" Stanbury, PC QC (October 26, 1929 - February 10, 2017) was a Canadian public servant, lawyer and former politician, journalist and corporate executive.

Background

Stanbury was born in Exeter, Ontario, on October 26, 1929. His father was a country lawyer who was keen on politics. He was educated at St. Catharines Collegiate Institute and the University of Western Ontario, where he was a member of The Kappa Alpha Society, before obtaining a law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. He began practicing law in North York and in 1961 was elected to the North York School Board. In 1963 he became chair of the board. Trustees at the time were unpaid so he resigned in 1964 to pay more attention to his family and his law practice.[1] He married Miriam Rose Voelker and together they raised four children.[2]

Politics

Stanbury was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1965 election as the Liberal Member of Parliament for York—Scarborough.[3] After being re-elected in the 1968 election, Stanbury was, in 1969, appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to the Cabinet as minister without portfolio with responsibilities for citizenship and information.[4]

In 1971, he was promoted to Minister of Communications.[5] In 1972 he became Minister of National Revenue.[6] He also served as a Canadian delegate to three United Nations General Assemblies.[7]

He was re-elected in the 1974 election, but was dropped from Cabinet in the post-election cabinet shuffle.[8] He retired from office in 1977 in order to pursue private business interests.

Later life

He retired from parliament in order to become an executive at Firestone Canada.[9] He served as chair and Chief Executive Officer from 1983 to 1985.[7]

Stanbury was a lawyer in the Hamilton, Ontario, firm of Inch, Easterbrook and Shaker. He chaired the Ontario panel of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, and was past chair of the Employers’ Council of Ontario. He was a member of the Council of Canadian Administrative Tribunals and the International Commission of Jurists.

He served as President of the Canadian Council for Native Business, a private sector charitable organization linking aspiring aboriginal entrepreneurs and managers with established businesses and financial institution. He had a long-standing interest in Canada's north and served as a founding member of the Nunavut Arbitration Board, which is empowered to resolve disputes arising out of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, and as the territory's Integrity Commissioner.

Stanbury died in Burlington, Ontario, on February 10, 2017, at the age of 87.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Industrious, handsome bilingual: Lifelong Liberal, Stanbury lacks flair but is a conscientious trooper". The Globe and Mail. 16 October 1969. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b "Stanbury, The Honourable Robert Douglas George 'Bob' Stanbury Obituary". Halton Obituaries. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ^ "Results in political ridings across the nation in Canada's federal election". The Globe and Mail. 9 November 1965. p. 10.
  4. ^ Goldblatt, Murray (16 October 1969). "Made Ministers without Portfolio: Gray and Stanbury join Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  5. ^ Goldblatt, Murray (12 August 1971). "Stanbury is given portfolio; 2 more Metro MPs named". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  6. ^ Wills, Terrance (28 November 1972). "Ontario members hold most big portfolios: 8 new ministers in rebuilt Cabinet". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.
  7. ^ a b The International Who's Who 2004. Psychology Press. 2003. p. 1598. ISBN 9781857432176.
  8. ^ Wills, Terrance (9 August 1974). "6 Cabinet ministers are out, 4 brought in, but more changes to come". The Globe and Mail. p. 29.
  9. ^ "Firestone Canada Ltd.-Ltee Appointment". The Globe and Mail. 15 November 1977. p. B18.