List of Canadian political families

During its history, a number of Canadian families have produced multiple politicians. As there are no term limits in Canada for any legislative or executive office, these families have often held uninterrupted political power.

Families

Bédard

Marc-André Bédard, Vice-Premier of Quebec and Quebec Minister of Justice
- Stéphane Bédard, Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly of Quebec and interim leader of the Bloc Québécois
- Éric Bédard, adjunct-director for the cabinet of Quebec Premier Jacques Parizeau and counsellor for the Parti Québécois led by Pauline Marois (not to be confused with Éric Bédard (historian))

Bennett

(3rd cousins once removed, son)

R.B. Bennett eleventh Prime Minister of Canada
W.A.C. Bennett (Premier of British Columbia, 1952–1972)
- William R. Bennett (Premier of British Columbia, 1975–1986)
  - Brad Bennett, Chair of BC Hydro 2015–present

Braden family

(brothers)

Cannon–Power family

(GGG-grandfather, G-grandfather, granduncles, grandfathers, uncles, son)

John Cannon member of the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada
- William Power member of the House of Commons
  - Joseph Ignatius Power member of the Quebec Legislative Assembly
  - William Gerard Power member of the Quebec Legislative Council
  - Lawrence Arthur Dumoulin Cannon member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec and Supreme Court Justice
    - Charles Gavan Power federal cabinet minister (Minister of Pensions and National Health, Postmaster General), Senator
    - Lucien Cannon federal cabinet minister (Solicitor General)
      - Francis Gavan Power member of the House of Commons
      - Charles-Arthur Dumoulin Cannon member of the House of Commons
        Lawrence Cannon provincial cabinet minister (Parliamentary Secretaries to the Ministers of Foreign Trade and Technological Development, Tourism; Minister for Communications) and federal cabinet minister (Foreign Minister, Minister of Transport)
        Philippe Cannon chief of staff in two ministries of Quebec

Caplan

(mother, son)

Elinor Caplan, Liberal MPP and provincial cabinet (Health, Management Board), Liberal MP and federal cabinet minister (as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, National Revenue)
- David Caplan, Liberal MPP and provincial minister (Health, Infrastructure)

Carr

(twin brothers)

Casgrain-Beaubien

Charles-Eusèbe Casgrain sr, MLA Lower Canada
- Henri-Raymond Casgrain (son of Charles-Eusèbe), writer & historian.
- Philippe Baby Casgrain (son of Charles-Eusèbe), prothonotary, MNA.
- Charles-Eusèbe Casgrain jr (son of Charles-Eusèbe), senator
- Thomas Chase Casgrain (nephew of Philippe), MNA, MP
Pierre Beaubien, MLA Canada East, president of SSJBM, municipal politician in Montreal
- Louis Beaubien (son of Pierre, cousin of Philippe), MNA, president of SSJBM, co-founder of Outremont
  - Charles-Philippe Beaubien (son of Louis), senator
    - Louis-Philippe Beaubien (grandson of Louis), senator

(many more, see fr:Famille Casgrain)

Chiarelli

(cousins)

Bob Chiarelli (mayor of Ottawa), Regional Chair of Ottawa-Carleton, provincial MPP and cabinet minister (Ministers of Energy, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Transportation, Energy and Infrastructure)
Rick Chiarelli (city councillor in Ottawa)
John Chiarelli (former catholic school board trustee in Ottawa)

Chartrand

Michel Chartrand, president of CSN union federation, founder of Parti Socialiste du Québec
Simonne Monet-Chartrand (wife of Michel), founder of Fédération des femmes du Québec

Chrétien–Desmarais

(father-nephew-daughter)

Jean Chrétien prime minister
- Raymond Chrétien Ambassador to the USA
- France Chrétien Desmarais husband advisor to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) international advisors council

Clement

(stepfather-stepson)

John Clement, Ontario cabinet minister
- Tony Clement, Ontario cabinet minister, federal cabinet minister

Copps

(father-daughter)

Victor K. Copps mayor of Hamilton, Ontario
- Sheila Copps federal cabinet minister

Crosbie

(grandfather, father, son)

Sir John Chalker Crosbie cabinet minister in pre-Confederation Newfoundland
- Chesley Crosbie, politician and anti-Confederation campaigner
  - John Crosbie, federal cabinet minister

David

(great-grandfather, grandfather, father, sisters)

Laurent-Olivier David, MNA Montréal-Est, senator Mille-Isles, founder of newspapers, journalist, historian
- Athanase David federal cabinet minister, senator
  - Paul David senator
    - Françoise David Co-speaker of Québec Solidaire MNA for Gouin
    - Hélène David Quebec minister of Culture and communications, Liberal MNA for Outremont

Davie Fulton

(2 brothers, son-in-law, grandson)

Theodore Davie Premier of British Columbia, 1878–1879
Alexander Edmund Batson Davie Premier of British Columbia 1892–1895 (brother of Theodore Davie)
- Frederick John Fulton Unionist Member of Parliament for Cariboo, 1917 (father of Davie Fulton)
  - Davie Fulton Member of Parliament Progressive Conservative and British Columbia Conservative Leader (grandson of Premier Davie)

De Lorimier

Claude-Nicolas-Guillaume de Lorimier jr, MLA Lower Canada
François-Marie-Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier (grandson of brother), notary, Parti patriote activist, captain of patriot army, executed at Pied-du-Courant Prison

De Lotbinière

Michel-Eustache-Gaspard-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière MLA Lower Canada (Speaker in 1794-1797)
- Antoine Chartier de Lotbinière Harwood (grandson of Michel), MLA Canada-East, MNA
- Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière (grandson of Michel), MLA Canada-East, MNA, Premier of Quebec (1878-1879), MP, federal minister

Dewar

(mother-son)

Marion Dewar mayor of Ottawa and New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament
- Paul Dewar NDP Member of Parliament

Dorion

Pierre-Antoine Dorion, MLA Lower Canada
- Jean-Baptiste-Éric Dorion, MLA Canada East, co-founder of Institut canadien de Montréal
- Antoine-Aimé Dorion, MLA Canada East, Premier Canada East 1858-1858 & 1863-1864
- Vincislas-Paul-Wilfrid Dorion, lawyer, journalist, politician, judge

Duceppe

Jean Duceppe, actor, radio personality, president of Union des artistes
- Gilles Duceppe, first MP elected as Bloc Québécois, leader of Bloc Québécois, 24th federal Leader of Opposition

Eyking

(husband-wife)

Mark Eyking, Liberal MP
Pam Eyking, Liberal MLA

Ferron

J.-Émile Ferron, MP (PLC), lawyer
- Jacques Ferron (son of J.-Émile), founder of the Rhinoceros Party of Canada (1963–93), physician, writer.
- Madeleine Ferron (daughter of J.-Émile), wife of politician/judge Robert Cliche.

Flaherty-Elliott

(husband-wife)

Jim Flaherty, Conservative MP, former PC MPP
Christine Elliott, PC MPP

Ford

Doug Ford, Sr., Former PC MPP (1995-1999)
- Rob Ford, 64th Mayor of Toronto, Toronto City Councillor
- Doug Ford, Jr., Former Toronto City Councillor
  - Michael Ford, Toronto School Board Trustee (Nephew of Rob & Doug, Jr.)

Gérin-Lajoie

Antoine Gérin-Lajoie, writer, lawyer, author of the political song Un Canadien errant
- Marie Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie, promoter of women's rights, got Quebec's Code Civil modified
  - Marie Gérin-Lajoie (daughter of Marie L & Henri/Henry), founder of Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil institute and of FNSJB (feminist organisation).
    - Paul Gérin-Lajoie, MNA, founder of the Ministry of Education of Quebec. See also Gérin-Lajoie doctrine (international policy)

Ghiz

(father-son)

Joe Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island (1986–1993)
- Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island (2007–present)

Grewal

(husband-wife)

Gurmant Grewal and Nina Grewal, Conservative Members of Parliament, the first married couple to serve as MPs in the same session of Parliament.

Hampton–Martel

(husband-wife, wife's father and maternal grandfather)

Norman Fawcett, New Democrat MP
- Elie Martel, Ontario New Democrat MPP (married Fawcett's daughter)
  - Shelley Martel, Ontario New Democrat MPP
    - Howard Hampton, Ontario New Democrat leader, 1996–2009

Hellyer

(father-son)

Paul Hellyer, Sr., federal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister
- Paul Hellyer, federal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister

Henderson

(father-son)

George Henderson, federal MP (1980–1988)
- Robert Henderson, PEI provincial MLA (2007–present)

Hinman

(grandfather - grandson)

Edgar Hinman Provincial Treasurer Alberta
- Paul Hinman Leader of the Alberta Alliance Party

Ignatieff

(great-grandfather, grandfather, father, son)

Count Nikolai Pavlovich Ignatiev, Minister of the Interior (Russia)
- Count Paul Ignatieff, Minister of Education (Russia)
  - George Ignatieff, ambassador/president of UN security council (1968–1969)
    - Michael Ignatieff, federal Member of Parliament and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada (2008–2011)

Jackman

(grandfather, son-in-law, son-in-law's children)

Newton Rowell, Ontario Liberal Party leader
- Harry Jackman, Member of Parliament (married Rowell's daughter)
  - Hal Jackman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
  - Nancy Ruth, Senator

Johnson

(father-sons)

Daniel Johnson, Sr. (Union Nationale Premier of Quebec 1966–1968)
- Pierre-Marc Johnson (Parti Québécois Premier of Quebec, 1985): son of Daniel, Sr.
- Daniel Johnson, Jr. (Liberal Party of Quebec Premier of Quebec, 1994): son of Daniel, Sr.; brother of Pierre-Marc

Lacoste

Alexandre Lacoste, president of senate
- Marie Lacoste-Gérin-Lajoie (daughter of Alexandre) (see Gérin-Lajoie family)
- Justine Lacoste-Beaubien (daughter of Alexandre), co-founder & director of Hôpital Sainte-Justine

Layton

(grandfather, father, son, wife)

Gilbert Layton, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec and cabinet minister
- Robert Layton, federal Member of Parliament and cabinet minister
  - Jack Layton, Toronto City Councillor and leader of the federal New Democratic Party
    - Olivia Chow, Toronto City Councillor and Member of Parliament
    - Mike Layton, Toronto City Councillor (son of Jack, stepson of Olivia)

(Jack Layton is also a descendant of William Steeves, a Father of Confederation and Senator, on his maternal side.)

Léger

(father, son, daughter)

Marcel Léger, co-founder of Léger Marketing, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, PQ cabinet minister, founder of Parti nationaliste du Québec
- Jean-Marc Léger, co-founder and current leader of Léger Marketing (one of the two main pollsters of Quebec politics)
- Nicole Léger, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec, PQ cabinet minister

Lewis

(father and son)

David Lewis, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada
- Stephen Lewis, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations

Lougheed

(grandfather and grandson)

Sir James Lougheed, Senator
- Peter Lougheed, Premier of Alberta

MacKay

(father-son)

Elmer MacKay, Progressive Conservative MP and cabinet minister
- Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative and then Conservative MP and former Progressive Conservative leader

Manning

(father-son)

Ernest Manning (Premier of Alberta, 1943–1968)
- Preston Manning (Founder of the Reform Party, MP)

Martin

(father-son)

Paul Joseph James Martin - long serving Cabinet minister
- Paul Martin - Prime Minister

Macdonald

(father-son)

John A. Macdonald first Prime Minister of Canada
- Hugh John Macdonald federal cabinet minister, premier of Manitoba

Mackenzie King

(grandfather-grandson)

William Lyon Mackenzie rebel, first mayor of Toronto
- William Lyon Mackenzie King Canada's longest serving Prime Minister

McGuinty

(father-son)

Dalton McGuinty, Sr. MPP from Ottawa South
- Dalton McGuinty MPP from Ottawa South, and Premier of Ontario
- David McGuinty MP from Ottawa South

McLeod

(brothers)

Meighen

(father, son, daughter, grandson, grandson's stepfather)

Arthur Meighen, Prime Minister of Canada
- Lillian Meighen, philanthropist
- Theodore Meighen, lawyer and philanthropist
  - Michael Meighen, Senator
    - Hartland Molson, Senator, married Theodore Meighen's widow

Mercier-Gouin

Honoré Mercier, Premier of Quebec (1887-1891)
- Honoré Mercier Jr. (son of Honoré & brother-in-law of Lomer Gouin), MNA
  - Honoré Mercier III, MNA
Lomer Gouin, Premier of Quebec (1905-1920)
- Paul Gouin (son of Lomer & Éliza, grandson of Honoré), MNA, founder of Action Libérale Nationale party, co-founder of Bloc populaire party
- Léon Mercier Gouin (son of Lomer & Éliza, grandson of Honoré), co-founder of HEC Montréal university, political writer
  - Ollivier Mercier Gouin (son of Léon-Mercier), writer, reporter, actor
Louis Gouin (?), MLA Lower Canada
Thomas Mulcair, great-great-grandson of Honoré Sr. and great-great-great-grandson of Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau, Federal Leader of Opposition for NPD, cabinet minister in Quebec.

Nixon

(grandfather, father, daughter)

Harry Nixon, Ontario premier
- Robert Nixon, Ontario Liberal Party leader
  - Jane Stewart, Liberal MP,cabinet minister, chief of staff

Notley

(father, daughter)

Grant Notley, Alberta MLA, Leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party
- Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta

Papineau

(see also Viger family)

Joseph Papineau, MLA Lower Canada
- Louis-Joseph Papineau (#1, son of Joseph), leader of the Parti patriote
  - Talbot Mercer Papineau (grandson of Louis-Joseph #1, son of Louis-Joseph #2, cousin of Henri Bourassa)
- Denis-Benjamin Papineau (son of Joseph), MLA Canada East, Premier of Canada East (1846-1848)
  - Denis-Émery Papineau (son of Denis-Benjamin), MLA Canada East
Henri Bourassa (son of Mrs Azélie Papineau), MP, MNA, founder of Ligue nationaliste, founder of Le Devoir newspaper.
Louis-Joseph Papineau (#3, son of Narcisse), MP, MNA
François Bourassa (uncle of Henri, brother-in-law of Azélie), captain of patriote army, MLA Canada-East, MP.

Parizeau

Damase Dalpé dit Parizeau, MNA
- Télesphore Parizeau, dean of medecine at Université de Montréal
  - Gérard Parizeau, insurer & historian
    - Jacques Parizeau (great-grandson of Damase), Deputy Minister, MNA, Minister of Finance of Quebec, Premier of Quebec (1994-1996)
Alice Parizeau (Alicja Poznańska) (1st wife of Jacques), writer, journalist, criminologist, Croix de Guerre (WW2 French decoration)
Lisette Lapointe (or Lizette) (2nd wife of Jacques), MNA, mayor of Saint-Adolphe-d'Howard.

Peterson

(brother, brother, brother and wife)

Jim Peterson, MP for Willowdale and Cabinet Minister
David Peterson, MPP for London Centre and Premier of Ontario
Tim Peterson, MPP for Mississauga South
Deb Matthews, MPP for London North Centre

Pouliot

Jean-Baptiste Pouliot, MP for Témiscouata, MLA Canada-East for Témiscouata
- Joseph-Camille Pouliot, son of Jean-Baptiste, lawyer, judge of Superior Court of Quebec
  - Georges Bouchard, son-in-law of Joseph-Camille, MP for Kamouraska
  - Camille Pouliot (Camille-Eugène), son of Joseph-Camille, MNA for Gaspé-Sud, minister, mayor
- Rodolphe Lemieux, brother of 3rd wife of Joseph-Camille, senator
- Charles-Eugène Pouliot, son of Jean-Baptiste, MP for Témiscouata, MNA for Témiscouata
  - Jean-François Pouliot, son of Charles-Eugène, MP for Témiscouata

Rae

(father-brother-brother)

Saul Rae career diplomat
- Bob Rae New Democratic Party of Ontario premier of Ontario, diplomat, candidate in the Liberal Party of Canada leadership election, 2006
- John Rae strategic political advisor to Liberal prime ministers

Regan

(father-son-son's wife)

Gerald A. Regan, Liberal Party of Nova Scotia premier of Nova Scotia, federal cabinet minister
- Geoff Regan, federal Liberal cabinet minister
- Kelly Regan, provincial MLA

Roblin

(grandfather-grandson)

Rodmond P. Roblin, premier of Manitoba
- Dufferin (“Duff”) Roblin, premier of Manitoba, federal senator

Rowe

(father-daughter)

William Earl Rowe, Ontario Conservative Party leader and Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
- Jean Casselman Wadds, Member of Parliament and diplomat

Sifton

(father-sons)

John Wright Sifton, MLA, speaker of the house in Manitoba
- Arthur Sifton, premier of Alberta, federal cabinet minister
- Clifford Sifton, Manitoba cabinet minister, federal cabinet minister

Sinclair–Trudeau family

(grandfather, son-in-law, grandson)

James Sinclair, federal cabinet minister (Minister of Fisheries) and father of Margaret Trudeau
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau, federal Liberal cabinet minister, 15th Prime Minister of Canada
  - Justin Trudeau, 23rd Prime Minister of Canada
  - Alexandre Trudeau, television journalist
- Deborah Coyne, had a child with Pierre Trudeau, federal Liberal candidate in 2006

Taschereau family

Gabriel-Elzéar Taschereau, MLA Lower Canada
- Jean-Thomas Taschereau (1778–1832) sr, MLA Lower Canada, judge
  - Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, first catholic cardinal born in Canada
  - Jean-Thomas Taschereau jr, Quebec Superior Court
    - Louis-Alexandre Taschereau, Premier of Quebec 1920-1936
      - Robert Taschereau, chief justice of Supreme Court, interim Governor General
- Thomas-Pierre-Joseph Taschereau, businessman, judge, Legislative Council of Lower Canada
  - Joseph-André Taschereau, lawyer, MLA Lower Canada, MLA Canada-East, judge of Superior Court of Quebec
  - Pierre-Elzéar Taschereau, lawyer, MLA Lower Canada, MLA Canada-East
    - Henri-Elzéar Taschereau, MLA Canada-East, first French-Canadian chief justice of Supreme Court, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Viger family

(see also Papineau family)

Denis Viger, MLA Lower Canada
- Denis-Benjamin Viger, owner of newspapers, MLA Lower Canada, MLA Canada East, Premier of Canada East (1843-1846)
Jacques Viger (sr), MLA Lower Canada
- Jacques Viger (1787–1858) (jr), 1st mayor of Montreal
Bonaventure Viger, patriote in Lower Canada Rebellion, cousin of Denis-Benjamin
Joseph Viger, MLA Lower Canada
Louis-Michel Viger, MLA Lower Canada, MLA Canada East

Whelan family

(brother-father-daughter)

Edward Charles Whelan, Member of Legislative Assembly (Saskatchewan) from 1960 to 1979, Minister of Mineral Resources from 1975 to 1976, Minister of Consumer Affairs from 1976 to 1979
Eugene Whelan, Member of Parliament from 1962 to 1984, Minister of Agricultuture from 1972 to 1979 an 1980 to 1984, Canadian Senate from 1996 to 1999, Officer of the Order of Canada
- Susan Whelan, Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2004, Minister for International Cooperation

Woodsworth-MacInnis family

(father-son in law-daughter)

J.S. Woodsworth, founding leader of the CCF, MP from 1921 to 1942
- Angus MacInnis, MP from BC from 1930 to 1957, involved in founding of the CCF, husband of Grace MacInnis.
- Grace MacInnis, BC CCF MLA from 1941–45, NDP MP from 1965 to 1974, daughter of JS Woodsworth

Yakabuski family

(father-son)

Paul Yakabuski, Reeve of Barry's Bay, Ontario, MPP, Renfrew South, Ontario
- John Yakabuski MPP, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Ontario

List of Canadian political families

Families

See also