Robert Muir (politician)
Robert (Bob) Muir (10 November 1919 – 31 August 2011) was a Canadian Member of Parliament, first in the House of Commons and later in the Senate. Muir sat in both chambers as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. He was born in Scotland and raised on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Before he became a politician, he was also a miner, a union official, a salesman and a businessman during his career. He died at his home in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in 2011.
Robert Muir | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 10 June 1957 – 24 June 1968 | |
| Preceded by | William Murdoch Buchanan – Liberal |
| Succeeded by | Electoral district abolished |
| Constituency | Cape Breton North and Victoria |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 25 June 1968 – 26 March 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Electoral district established |
| Succeeded by | Russell MacLellan – Liberal |
| Constituency | Cape Breton—The Sydneys |
| Senator for Nova Scotia | |
| In office 28 March 1979 – 10 November 1994 | |
| Constituency | Cape Breton—The Sydneys |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 November 1919 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 31 August 2011 (aged 91) Coxheath, Nova Scotia |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Residence | Coxheath, Nova Scotia |
| Profession | Miner, businessman, salesman |
Early life
Muir was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on 10 November 1919.[1] After his father died in 1920, he and his mother immigrated to Canada.[2] After leaving school in grade 8, he worked in the coal mines until injuries ended his ability to do so.[2] Before he was injured for the final time, he was elected as the secretary of his United Mine Workers of America (UMW) local.[2] After recuperating from his injuries, he worked in insurance for London Life until he was elected to parliament.[1] He later served as chair of the Miners' Hospital in Cape Breton.[3]
Political career
Muir began politics as a member of the Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia municipal council, where he served from 1948 to 1958.[4] He entered federal politics in the 1957 Canadian general election, winning the Cape Breton North and Victoria electoral district in Nova Scotia.[2] His old riding was abolished after the 1966 electoral district redistribution.[4] Muir then ran in the newly created Cape Breton—The Sydneys electoral district in the 1968 Canadian general election and won the seat.[1] Muir won election eight consecutive times, stepping down in 1979 after having served in the 30th Canadian Parliament.[4][5]
On 28 March 1979, two-days after an election call, Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau appointed Muir to the Senate.[6] Muir sat in the self-designated Senate division of Cape Breton-The Sydneys.[4] Muir retired from the Senate on 10 November 1994.[4] He died at home, in Coxheath, Nova Scotia on 31 August 2011, aged 91, from respiratory failure.[2][7]
References
- Collins, Julie (1 September 2011). "Bob Muir remembered as a man of the people". The Cape Breton Post. Sydney, Nova Scotia. p. A8. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
- "Senator Robert Muir, 91 Coxheath". The Cape Breton Post. Sydney, Nova Scotia. 2 September 2011. p. 4. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
- "Former Nova Scotia Parliamentarian Robert Muir dies at 91". CBC News. Halifax, Nova Scotia. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- "MUIR, The Hon. Robert (Biography)". Ottawa: Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on 21 November 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- The Canadian Press (31 August 2011). "Former MP, senator Robert Muir dies at 91". Metronews. Winnipeg, Manitoba. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- The Canadian Press (29 March 1979). "Tory MP becomes Senator as Trudeau names five to chamber". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 2.
- MacLean, Greg (31 August 2011). "Bob Muir dead". CJCB Radio AM 1270. Sydney, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.