The Speakers of the Senate of Canada

Hon. Georges Parent
K.C., B.A., LL.L. (1940–1942)

Georges Parent combined a highly successful legal and business career with firm dedication to the Liberal Party. At 25, he was the youngest member of the House of Commons when he was first elected in 1904. At the time, Parent’s father was both Premier of Quebec and long-time Mayor of the City of Québec; in 1935, his brother Charles would be elected as a Liberal member of the House of Commons. Liberal Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier honoured Parent in his first session by asking him to second the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

Parent was elected five more times by 1926, and defeated once. During his parliamentary terms and his six-year absence from the House, he built up his law practice, corporate directorships and business interests, including asbestos, brickworks, paper, hydroelectric power and Le Soleil newspaper, among others.

Perfectly bilingual, Parent championed the equality of English and French during his time as a member of the House of Commons. He did not run in the 1930 general election, and Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King appointed him to the Senate before election day. After a decade’s service, he was appointed Speaker in 1940, but died suddenly after less than three years in the chair.

Parent was appointed to the Senate by the Liberal government during an election, allegedly in order to keep his newspaper, Le Soleil, loyal to the Liberals.

Next Speaker: Hon. Thomas Vien

Previous Speaker: Hon. Walter Edward Foster

© Library of Parliament  |  Revised: 2011-12

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