George Stanley White
Encyclopedia
George Stanley White, PC
(November 17, 1897 - January 6, 1977) was a Canadian parliamentarian and Speaker of the Canadian Senate
from 1962 to 1963.
White was born in Madoc, Ontario
. He received a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School
in Toronto and returned to Madoc to begin his legal practice after serving in World War I with the 44th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
.
White was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in 1940. He was elected as a "National Government" candidate as that was the banner the Conservatives used for that election. The Tories subsequently changed their name to "Progressive Conservative
" and he was re-elected under that banner for the riding of Hastings—Peterborough
(known as Hastings—Frontenac after 1953).
As an Opposition MP, White promoted the cause of war veterans and helped write the legislation known as the "Veteran's Charter".
The 1957 election resulted in the first Progressive Conservative government in over two decades. In September of that year new Progressive Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
made White his first appointment to the Senate so that Sydney Earle Smith, the newly appointed Secretary of State for External Affairs despite not being an MP could attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons through a by-election.
White served as the government's whip in the Senate from 1958 until September 1962 when he was appointed Speaker. He only served in the Chair for a few months until the defeat of the Diefenbaker government in the 1963 federal election. He voluntarily retired from the Senate on November 17, 1972 when he turned 75.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(November 17, 1897 - January 6, 1977) was a Canadian parliamentarian and Speaker of the Canadian Senate
Speaker of the Canadian Senate
The Speaker of the Senate of Canada is the presiding officer of the Senate of Canada. The speaker represents the Senate at official functions, rules on questions of parliamentary procedure and parliamentary privilege, and oversee debates and voting in the red chamber. This position is often...
from 1962 to 1963.
White was born in Madoc, Ontario
Madoc, Ontario
Madoc is a township in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in Hastings County.The township was named after legendary Welsh prince Madoc ap Owain Gwynedd, credited by some with discovering North America in 1170.-Communities:...
. He received a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in Toronto and returned to Madoc to begin his legal practice after serving in World War I with the 44th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
.
White was first elected to 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...
in 1940. He was elected as a "National Government" candidate as that was the banner the Conservatives used for that election. The Tories subsequently changed their name to "Progressive Conservative
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....
" and he was re-elected under that banner for the riding of Hastings—Peterborough
Hastings—Peterborough
Hastings—Peterborough was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1925 to 1953. It was located in the province of Ontario...
(known as Hastings—Frontenac after 1953).
As an Opposition MP, White promoted the cause of war veterans and helped write the legislation known as the "Veteran's Charter".
The 1957 election resulted in the first Progressive Conservative government in over two decades. In September of that year new Progressive Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker
John Diefenbaker
John George Diefenbaker, PC, CH, QC was the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 21, 1957, to April 22, 1963...
made White his first appointment to the Senate so that Sydney Earle Smith, the newly appointed Secretary of State for External Affairs despite not being an MP could attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons through a by-election.
White served as the government's whip in the Senate from 1958 until September 1962 when he was appointed Speaker. He only served in the Chair for a few months until the defeat of the Diefenbaker government in the 1963 federal election. He voluntarily retired from the Senate on November 17, 1972 when he turned 75.