Gideon Robertson
Canadian politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gideon Decker Robertson, PC (August 26, 1874 – August 25, 1933) was a Canadian Senator and Canadian Cabinet minister.
The Hon. Gideon Decker Robertson | |
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Senator for Welland, Ontario | |
In office January 20, 1917 – August 25, 1933 | |
Appointed by | Robert Borden |
Personal details | |
Born | (1874-08-26)August 26, 1874 Welland County, Ontario, Canada |
Died | August 25, 1933(1933-08-25) (aged 58) Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Political party | Conservative |
Cabinet | Minister Without Portfolio (1917–1918) Minister of Labour (1918–1921 & 1930–1932) |
Robertson was a telegrapher by profession and had links with conservatives in the labour movement. In January 1917, he was appointed to the Senate as a Conservative as a means of bringing in labour representation during the First World War. When Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden formed a Unionist government in October as a means of creating a national government for the war effort, he included Robertson in the cabinet, making him minister without portfolio despite not having a seat in the House of Commons, to represent organised labour.