Stockwell Day

Stockwell Day 1950-, Canadian political leader, b. Barrie, Ontario. He grew up in Montreal, attended (1970-71) the Univ. of Victoria, and held such jobs as auctioneer, deckhand, lumberjack, contractor, Christian educator, and evangelical lay pastor before entering politics. In 1986, Day was elected to the Alberta legislature, and subsequently served in several provincial offices, becoming Alberta's tax-cutting treasurer in 1997 and winning notice a proponent of a flat income tax, smaller government, and increased provincial sovereignty. In 2000 the youthful and vigorous Day defeated Preston Manning to become head of the Canadian Alliance and leader of the opposition; he was subsequently elected to the Canadian parliament. Day and the Alliance failed, however, to defeat the Liberals in elections called by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien for Nov., 2000. He resigned as party leader in Dec., 2001, and was replaced by Stephen Harper the following year. Day became minister for public safety in the Conservative government in 2006.