Diane Stratas
Encyclopedia
Diane Rose Stratas was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Canadian House of Commons
. She was a businesswoman and community service volunteer by career. The middle daughter of immigrants from Kastri
, Greece
who lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she is married to retired veterinarian, William J. Stratas. In December 2009, her second son, David Stratas
, was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, based in Ottawa
.
. In September 1979, she was appointed by Prime Minister Joe Clark
as Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State, David MacDonald
. After serving one term, the 31st Canadian Parliament
, she was defeated in the 1980 federal election
by Norm Kelly
of the Liberal Party
. Following this defeat, she was elected national secretary of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
. She did not run for federal office in the 1984 federal election
but instead supported the candidacy of Pauline Browes
.
Stratas was the first woman of Greek-Canadian heritage elected to Canada's House of Commons. She also was one of only two female MPs in the Progressive Conservative government of 1979-1980, the other being Secretary of State for External Affairs, the Hon. Flora MacDonald.
In early 1987, she was appointed to the national Refugee Status Advisory Committee but resigned within three months, citing concerns that her position resulted from "political patronage" and that federal policy was presenting additional difficulties for refugees.
in recognition of her contribution to public service and community. In 1994 she was recognized with a Lifetime Women's Achievement award by the Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto.
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
. She was a businesswoman and community service volunteer by career. The middle daughter of immigrants from Kastri
Kastri
Kastri , older form Kastrion may refer to several places in Greece:*Kastri, Evrymenes, a village in the Ioannina prefecture, also known as Kastri Vassilopoulou*Kastri, Thesprotia, a village in the Thesprotia prefecture...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
who lived in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, she is married to retired veterinarian, William J. Stratas. In December 2009, her second son, David Stratas
David Stratas
David W. Stratas is a Canadian jurist. He has served on the Federal Court of Appeal since 2009.Mr. Justice Stratas was educated at Queen's University, earning an LL.B. in 1984 and Oxford University, earning a B.C.L. in 1986. He then returned to Canada and clerked for Justice Bertha Wilson of the...
, was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Appeal, based in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
.
Public service
Diane Stratas represented the newly formed Ontario constituency of Scarborough Centre, which she won by a comfortable margin in the 1979 federal electionCanadian federal election, 1979
The Canadian federal election of 1979 was held on May 22, 1979 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 31st Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of Liberal Party of Canada after 11 years in power under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Joe Clark led the Progressive...
. In September 1979, she was appointed by Prime Minister Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
as Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State, David MacDonald
David MacDonald
David Samuel Horne MacDonald, PC is a United Church of Canada minister and a former Canadian politician, and author....
. After serving one term, the 31st Canadian Parliament
31st Canadian Parliament
The 31st Canadian Parliament was a briefly lived parliament in session from October 9 until December 14, 1979. The membership was set by the 1979 federal election on May 22, 1979, and it was dissolved after the minority government of Joe Clark failed to pass a Motion of Confidence on December 13,...
, she was defeated in the 1980 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1980
The Canadian federal election of 1980 was held on February 18, 1980 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 32nd Parliament of Canada...
by Norm Kelly
Norm Kelly
Norman "Norm" Kelly is a Canadian politician. He is a city councillor in Toronto, Ontario representing one of two municipal wards that make up the jurisdiction of Scarborough—Agincourt.-Background:Kelly is a trained historian...
of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
. Following this defeat, she was elected national secretary of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
. She did not run for federal office in the 1984 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
but instead supported the candidacy of Pauline Browes
Pauline Browes
Pauline Browes, PC is a Canadian politician. She was a Member of Parliament between 1984 and 1993.An educator by training, Browes was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre in the 1984 federal election that brought...
.
Stratas was the first woman of Greek-Canadian heritage elected to Canada's House of Commons. She also was one of only two female MPs in the Progressive Conservative government of 1979-1980, the other being Secretary of State for External Affairs, the Hon. Flora MacDonald.
In early 1987, she was appointed to the national Refugee Status Advisory Committee but resigned within three months, citing concerns that her position resulted from "political patronage" and that federal policy was presenting additional difficulties for refugees.
Recognition and honours
In 1992, Diane Stratas was awarded the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal
The 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal is a commemorative medal struck by the Royal Canadian Mint celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada...
in recognition of her contribution to public service and community. In 1994 she was recognized with a Lifetime Women's Achievement award by the Greek Community of Metropolitan Toronto.