Canadian Prime Minister Scandals Quiz

Answer: Sir John A. Macdonald

One of the conditions under which British Columbia entered the Dominion of Canada (1871) was that a railway to link that province with the east be constructed within 10 years. In 1872 a contract for construction of such a railway was awarded to a syndicate headed by Sir Hugh Allan, a Canadian shipowner and financier. Allan was a heavy contributor to the Conservative campaign in the 1872 election, and Macdonald's Liberal opponents accused him of having awarded the contract in return for this financial support (April 1873).

The charges led to the resignation of the Macdonald government on November 5 and to the cancellation of the contract.

Answer: Kim Campbell

Canada's first and only (so far) female Prime Minister. Barbara Woodley photographed several prominent Canadian women in a variety of fields such as music and politics as part of a book entitled 'Portraits of Canadian Women in Focus'

Answer: Pierre Trudeau

Rest in Peace.

Answer: Jean Chretien

Let's not forget the tainted blood scandal and the APEC scandal as well.

Answer: Sir John Abbott

Abbott was the M.P for Argenteuil, and his involvement with both the CPR and the goverment led to a conflict of interest. He was at the centre of the Pacific Scandal: it was from Abbott office that the incriminating documents were stolen and handed over to the Liberals. Abbott lost his seat in parliament in 1874 as a result of the scandal, but was re-elected in a by-election in 1881.

In addition to his associations with the Pacific Scandal, Abbott had another embarrassment that his opponents never let him forget.

He signed the Annexation Manifesto in 1849. This was a document drawn up by a group of Monteal businessman, advocating that the Canadian colonies relinquish their ties with Britian and join the United States. The threat of annexation on the part of the Canadians was used more for the purpose of extracting concessions from Britain than for seriously proposing to merge with the U.S. Abbott himself later confessed that they had 'no more serious idea of seeking annexation with the Unites States than a petulant child who strikes his nurse has of deliberately murdering her.' But to atone for his youthful error, he raised 300 militia recriuts in response to the Trent Affair of 1861 and maintained the regiment at his own expense.

Answer: Brian Mulroney

Answer: Mackenzie King

3 time Prime Minister despite the scandal. Mackenzie King headed the government of Canada for over 20 years. This is longer than any other statesman in the British parlimentary system.

Answer: Lester B. Pearson

Also in his cabinet he managed to appoint 3 future prime ministers, the 3 wrong answers mentioned in my question, Trudeau, Turner, and Chretien.

Answer: Sir Robert Borden

Interesting fact: Sir Robert Borden was called to the Bar in 1878, and proceeded to establish himself as a successful lawyer in partnership with Charles Hibbert Tupper, son of the future Conservative Prime Minister, Charles Tupper.

Answer: Sir Mackenzie Bowell

When Sir Mackenzie Bowell resigned, Sir Charles Tupper became Prime Minister and had the shortest reign of any prime minister at 54 days!