By Sarah Wallace

Canada 150: PA lays claim to three Prime Ministers

Jun 26, 2017 | 10:57 AM

Prince Albert is synonymous with one Prime Minister; John G. Diefenbaker. But not everyone realizes the city can lay claim to Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, as well.

In celebration of Canada’s 150, the Prince Albert Historical Museum has created a display about the three men. Michelle Taylor, curator at the museum, said Prince Albert constituents are the only to have elected three Prime Ministers. Politicians were once able to run in more than one riding at a time. Laurier ran both here and in Quebec.

“[The Liberals] thought if he didn’t win in the east, that this would be a safe seat,” Taylor said.

Laurier won the Prince Albert riding in 1896 and 11 days later became prime minister. He served as leader until 1911.

In 1921 Mackenzie King became prime minister after taking the Prince Albert riding. Four years later during the next federal election, Prince Albert elected Charles McDonald. King lost in his home riding in Ontario, but as Liberal party leader he needed a seat. McDonald stepped down and King won Prince Albert riding in a by-election.

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“As a thank you, a few years later, Mackenzie King appointed McDonald to the senate. However, McDonald fell ill and was not able to take his seat in the senate, and then he passed away shortly after. [McDonald] is the only person in Canadian history to be elected as an MP and appointed to the senate and take a seat in neither,” Taylor said.

King represented the area for 25 years from 1921 to 1948. A few years later, Prince Albert would once again put up the next prime minister.

Diefenbaker was elected as Prince Albert’s MP in 1953 and remained in that role until his death in 1979. He served as prime minister from 1957 to 1963.

In addition to representing the constituents of Prince Albert, Diefenbaker is the region’s only native son. He grew up in Saskatoon, obtained three degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, and opened his first law practice in Wakaw.

Diefenbaker’s former Prince Albert house is now a museum, the city’s bridge is named after him, there’s a statue of him outside city hall, and a school named after him. Laurier received a short road in the West Hill, but there are no monuments to King’s tenure in Prince Albert.

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter and Instagram: @sarahthesquid