The 32nd Canadian Parliament was in session from April 14, 1980, until July 9, 1984. The membership was set by the 1980 federal election on February 18, 1980, and it only changed slightly due to resignations and by-elections prior to being dissolved before the 1984 election.
There were two sessions of the 32nd Parliament:
Overview
It was controlled by a Liberal Party majority, led first by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the 22nd Canadian Ministry, and then by Prime Minister John Turner and the 23rd Canadian Ministry. The Official Opposition was the Progressive Conservative Party, led first by Joe Clark, and then Brian Mulroney.
Party standings
The party standings as of the election and as of dissolution were as follows:
<nowiki>*</nowiki> After dissolution but before turning over power, Prime Minister John Turner filled ten of the Senate vacancies with Liberal members, for a total caucus of 74.
Major events
Trudeau's resignation
On February 29, 1989, a leap day, Pierre Trudeau announced that he would be stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party and as Prime Minister. In his announcement, he said that he had made the decision the day previous after taking a solitary walk in the snow. The phrase "walk in the snow" has since entered the Canadian lexicon, marking an occasion where a consequential career decision is made. John Turner would replace him as leader on June 16, 1984.
Patriation of the constitution
After many struggles, Canada took ownership of its constitution from Britain. The British parliament passed the Canada Act, 1982 on March 25th, 1982. Queen Elizabeth gave her royal assent to the act on March 29th, 1982. She subsequently traversed the Atlantic to proclaim the act in Canada on April 17, 1982.
The act was made up of two parts, "Schedule A" enacted the Constitution Act, 1982 into law in Canada and terminated Britain's power to make laws for Canada.
The Constitution Act, 1982 was made up of seven parts: the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (section I), Rights of Aboriginal Peoples of Canada (section II), Equalization and Regional Disparities (section III), Constitutional Conferences (part IV), Procedure for Amending Constitution of Canada (Part V), Amendment to the Constitution Act, 1867 (Part VI), and General (Part VI).
Legislation and motions
Act's which received royal assent under 32nd Parliament
1st Session
Source:
Public acts
Local and private acts
2nd Session
Source:
Public acts
Local and private acts
Members of the House of Commons
Members of the House of Commons in the 32nd parliament arranged by province.
Key:
- Party leaders are italicized.
- Parliamentary secretaries is indicated by "".
- Cabinet ministers are in boldface.
- The Prime Minister is both.
- The Speaker is indicated by "()".
Newfoundland
Prince Edward Island
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Daniel J. MacDonald died in office on September 30, 1980 and was replaced by Bennett Campbell in an April 13, 1981, by-election.
Nova Scotia
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Elmer MacKay resigned his seat to give new Tory leader Brian Mulroney a place in the Commons after an August 29, 1983 by-election.
New Brunswick
Quebec
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Roch La Salle resigned from parliament on March 17, 1981, to become leader of Quebec's Union Nationale party. After this party suffered a major defeat in the 1981 Quebec election, La Salle resigned as leader and was re-elected to his old position in an August 17 by-election.
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Raynald Guay left parliament on August 29, 1980, and was replaced by Gaston Gourde in a May 4, 1981, by-election.
Ontario
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Bob Rae left parliament to become leader of the Ontario NDP and was replaced by Lynn McDonald in 1982.
<nowiki>**</nowiki> Gary Gurbin resigned from the Progressive Conservative Party on December 17, 1981, citing concerns over party leader Joe Clark sat as an Independent Progressive Conservative until rejoining the party on January 28, 1982.
<nowiki>***</nowiki> Lincoln Alexander left parliament to become head of the Worker's Compensation Board and was replaced by Stanley Hudecki in a 1980 by-election.
<nowiki>****</nowiki> Thomas Cossitt died in office and was replaced by Jennifer Cossitt in a 1982 by-election
â Judd Buchanan resigned from parliament and was replaced by Jack Burghardt in an April 13, 1981, by-election
â â Walter Baker died in office on November 13, 1983 and the seat remains vacant for the reminder of parliament
â â â Peter Stollery was appointed to the Senate and was replaced by Dan Heap in an August 17, 1981, by-election
â â â â Bruce Lonsdale died in office and was replaced by John MacDougall in an October 12, 1982, by-election.
Manitoba
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Walter Dinsdale died in office and was replaced by Lee Clark in a May 24, 1983, by-election
Saskatchewan
Alberta
<nowiki>*</nowiki> John Kushner died in office on March 2, 1984 and the seat remains vacant for the reminder of parliament
<nowiki>**</nowiki> William Yurko resigned from the Progressive Conservative Party on January 29, 1982 and sat as an Independent for the reminder of parliament.
British Columbia
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Mark Rose left Parliament and was replaced by Gerry St. Germain in an August 29, 1983, by-election
Territories
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Peter Ittinuar resigned from the New Democratic Party on November 26, 1982 to join the Liberal Party and he was suspended from the Liberals to sat as an Independent for the reminder of parliament following charges of breach of trust, theft and forgery, of which he would ultimately be acquitted.
By-elections
See Also
Notes
References
External links