Gilbert Layton

Gilbert Layton (November 5, 1899 – May 29, 1961) was a Canadian politician and businessman in Quebec, Canada.

Gilbert Layton
Minister without portfolio
In office August 26, 1936 – October 5, 1939 Serving with Antonio Élie, Thomas J. Coonan, Thomas Chapais
Premier	Maurice Duplessis
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec for Montréal–Saint-Georges
In office August 17, 1936 – October 25, 1939
Preceded by	Charles Ernest Gault
Succeeded by	George Gordon Hyde (Westmount–Saint-Georges)
Personal details
Born	(1899-11-05)November 5, 1899 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	May 29, 1961(1961-05-29) (aged 61) Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Resting place	Mount Royal Cemetery
Political party	Union Nationale
Spouse	Norah Lestelle England
Children	Robert Layton
Residence(s)	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Merchant businessman activist

Background

Layton was born in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Alice Marion (Gilbert) and Philip Edward David Layton, who were English immigrants.^[1] His father was a blind activist who led a campaign for disability pensions in the 1930s. Gilbert was a merchant and business executive in the family firm of Layton Brothers (founded 1887, now as Layton Audio) from 1918 to 1932. He married Norah Lestelle England (daughter of Arthur John England and Florence Louise Grimmett) on February 18, 1921.

Member of the legislature

Gilbert Layton was elected to Quebec's legislative assembly in the riding of Montréal–Saint-Georges in 1936 as a member of the Union Nationale, a conservative party. He served as minister without portfolio in the government of Maurice Duplessis until resigning in 1939 to protest the Quebec government's opposition to conscription in World War II.^[2] He ran for re-election to the legislature as an independent candidate that year and was defeated.

Federal politics

In the 1945 federal election, he ran as an Independent Progressive Conservative for the Mount Royal seat in the House of Commons of Canada, but was defeated. He placed fourth behind the Liberal victor, the official Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate and the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) candidate.

Death

Layton died in Montreal and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery.

Descendants

Main article: Layton family

Gilbert Layton's son, Robert Layton, served as a federal Progressive Conservative cabinet minister in the 1980s. His grandson, Jack Layton, was the leader of the federal New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and was Leader of the Official Opposition for a short time in 2011 until he died in office. His great-grandson is Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton.