Alexander Mackenzie
Today is the birthday of Canada’s first Liberal prime minister, Alexander Mackenzie. A former stone mason, Mackenzie was always fiercely proud of his working class origins and on three occasions, turned down the offer of a knighthood. He was widely considered to be honest and forthright and became prime minister in November 1873 after John A. Macdonald resigned due to the Pacific Scandal.
Many lasting Canadian institutions can be credited to this first Liberal administration including the secret ballot, the Supreme Court, the Royal Military College of Canada and the Office of the Auditor General.
- Bob Rae