View source for Robert Stanfield

{{for|the Oregon politician|Robert N. Stanfield}}
{{Short description|Canadian premier and opposition leader (1914–2003)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Robert Stanfield
| honorific-suffix    = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|QC|FRCGS|size=100%}}
| image               = Robert Stanfield 1968 press photo.jpg
| caption             = Stanfield in 1967
| office              = [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start          = November 9, 1967
| term_end            = February 21, 1976
| predecessor         = [[Michael Starr (politician)|Michael Starr]]
| successor           = [[Joe Clark]]
| office2             = Leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]
| term_start2         = September 9, 1967
| term_end2           = February 21, 1976
| predecessor2        = [[John Diefenbaker]]
| successor2          = Joe Clark
| riding3             = [[Halifax (federal electoral district)|Halifax]]
| parliament3         = Canadian
| predecessor3        = ''Riding created''
| successor3          =[[George Cooper (Canadian politician)|George Cooper]]
| term_start3         = June 25, 1968
| term_end3           = May 21, 1979
| riding4             = [[Colchester—Hants]]
| parliament4         = Canadian
| predecessor4        = [[Cyril Kennedy (Canadian politician)|Cyril Kennedy]]
| successor4          = ''Riding abolished''
| term_start4         = November 6, 1967
| term_end4           = June 24, 1968
| office5             = 17th [[Premier of Nova Scotia]]
| lieutenant_governor5= [[Alistair Fraser]]<br />[[Edward Chester Plow]]<br />[[Henry Poole MacKeen]]
| monarch5            = [[Elizabeth II]]
| term_start5         = November 20, 1956
| term_end5           = September 13, 1967
| predecessor5        = [[Henry Hicks (Nova Scotia politician)|Henry Hicks]]
| successor5          = [[George Isaac Smith|G. I. Smith]]
| office6             = [[Nova Scotia House of Assembly|MLA]] for [[Colchester (provincial electoral district)|Colchester]]
| term_start6         = June 9, 1949
| term_end6           = September 13, 1967
| predecessor6        = [[Gordon Purdy]]<br /> [[Robert F. McLellan]]
| successor6          = [[Gerald Ritcey]]
| alongside6          = G. I. Smith
| birth_name          = Robert Lorne Stanfield
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1914|04|11}}
| birth_place         = [[Truro, Nova Scotia]], Canada
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2003|12|16|1914|04|11}}
| death_place         = [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| restingplace        = [[Camp Hill Cemetery]]<br />[[Halifax (former city)|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]], Canada
| party               = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]
| spouse              = {{Unbulleted list| {{marriage|Joyce Frazee|1940|1954|end=died}} | {{marriage|Mary Hall|1957|1977|end=died}} | {{marriage|Anne Austin|1978}} 
}}
| children            = 4
| relatives           = [[Frank Stanfield]] (father)<br />[[John Stanfield]] (uncle)<br />[[Frank Thomas Stanfield]] (brother)
| alma_mater          = {{Unbulleted list|[[Dalhousie University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])|[[Harvard Law School|Harvard University]] ([[LLB]])}}
| occupation          = 
| profession          = {{hlist| Barrister|Ambassador}}
| signature           =
| footnotes           =
}}

'''Robert Lorne Stanfield''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|QC|FRCGS}} (April 11, 1914 &ndash; December 16, 2003) was a Canadian politician who served as the 17th [[premier of Nova Scotia]] from 1956 to 1967 and the [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)|leader of the Official Opposition]] and leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]] from 1967 to 1976.

Born into an affluent [[Nova Scotia]] [[Stanfield's|clothing manufacturing]] and political family in [[Truro, Nova Scotia|Truro]], Stanfield graduated from [[Dalhousie University]] and [[Harvard Law School]] in the 1930s. He was a lawyer before becoming the leader of the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia|Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party]] in 1948, with the goal of reviving the party that did not have a single seat in the legislature. After a rebuilding period, Stanfield led the party to a [[majority government]] in [[1956 Nova Scotia general election|1956]]; their first victory since [[1928 Nova Scotia general election|1928]]. Leading the party to four majorities in total, Stanfield's government established [[Industrial Estates Limited]] (IEL) to attract new industry in Nova Scotia, introduced hospital insurance and a provincial [[sales tax]] (PST) to fund half of it, prioritized human rights for [[Black Nova Scotians]], and drastically increased funding for education.

In 1967, he resigned as premier and [[1967 Progressive Conservative leadership election|was elected]] the leader of the federal Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, thus becoming the leader of the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|Official Opposition]]. In the [[1968 Canadian federal election|1968 federal election]], he suffered a [[landslide victory|landslide]] defeat to the incumbent Liberals led by [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]]. In [[1972 Canadian federal election|1972]], Stanfield recovered the PCs' standing and narrowly lost to Trudeau for a second time. In [[1974 Canadian federal election|1974]], he lost to Trudeau's Liberals for a third time by a wide margin. Stanfield was a strong supporter of [[Official bilingualism in Canada|bilingualism]], putting him at odds with some members of the PC Party. He resigned as leader in [[1976 Progressive Conservative leadership election|1976]] and from politics in [[1979 Canadian federal election|1979]].

In retirement, he lived mostly in [[Ottawa]], and campaigned for the [[Meech Lake Accord]], the [[Charlottetown Accord]], and [[free trade]] in the 1980s and early 1990s. He died in Ottawa in 2003 from complications due to pneumonia. He was one of only several people granted the style "[[The Right Honourable]]" who were not so entitled by virtue of an office held.

==Early life (1913–1947)==

Stanfield was born in [[Truro, Nova Scotia]], the son of Sarah Emma (née Thomas) and entrepreneur [[Frank Stanfield]], and was named after [[Robert Borden]], a fellow [[Nova Scotia]]n who was [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister]] at the time.<ref name="StanfieldDalhousie">{{cite web |title=Robert Stanfield |url=https://www.dal.ca/about-dal/dalhousie-originals/robert-stanfield.html |website=Dalhousie University |access-date=2021-11-16}}</ref> Stanfield's family owned [[Stanfield's|Stanfield's Limited]], a large textile company.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=17}} Stanfield studied economics and political science at [[Dalhousie University]] and was awarded the [[Governor General's Academic Medal|Governor General's Silver Medal]] for achieving the highest standing when he graduated in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|pp=30–33}}

Stanfield then studied at [[Harvard Law School]], where he was an honours student near the top of his class and the first Canadian editor of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]].''{{sfnp|Fraser|2003|p=A10}} During his student days in the 1930s, he witnessed the poverty that the [[Great Depression]] produced, causing him to become interested in [[John Maynard Keynes]]'s economic theories. Stanfield then considered himself a [[socialist]].{{sfnp|Laghi|Cox|2003|p=R7}} Over time, he was less attached to socialism, but its influence on him remained, as he was considered a [[Red Tory]] for his appreciation of the [[common good]].{{sfnp|Laghi|Cox|2003|p=R7}} Stanfield graduated from Harvard in 1939 and was [[called to the bar]] in 1940. From 1939 to 1945 during [[World War II]], he worked as a member of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board's Halifax staff.<ref name="StanfieldBritannica">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Robert L. Stanfield |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-L-Stanfield |website=Britannica |access-date=28 June 2023}}</ref>

==Provincial politics (1947–1967)==

[[File:The Maritime Premiers pose in front of Confederation Bronze Plaque in the Confederation Chamber of the Provincial Building, Charlottetown, P.E.I. which was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Sept. 1964.jpg|thumb|Stanfield (second to the left) and three other Atlantic Premiers in Confederation Chamber, [[Charlottetown]], [[Prince Edward Island|P.E.I.]], 1964]]

Stanfield decided to enter Nova Scotia politics. In 1947 he became president of the [[Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia]] (PCs) which was in poor shape as it did not have a single seat in the legislature,<ref name="StanfieldBritannica" /> while the [[Nova Scotia Liberal Party|Liberals]] dominated the province. In 1948, Stanfield was elected leader of the party, and began the process of reviving the party. In the [[1949 Nova Scotia general election|1949 election]], the PCs won 8 seats and in [[1953 Nova Scotia general election|1953]], they won 12. In the [[1956 Nova Scotia general election|1956 election]], the PCs won a [[majority government]], their first victory since [[1928 Nova Scotia general election|1928]]. This ended 23 consecutive years of Liberal rule.

===Premier of Nova Scotia (1956–1967)===

Known as "Honest Bob" for his straightforward manner,<ref>{{cite web |title='Honest Bob' promises more progress in Nova Scotia |url=https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/nova-scotia-elections-honest-bob-promises-more-progress |website=CBC |access-date=2022-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121225347/https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/nova-scotia-elections-honest-bob-promises-more-progress |archive-date=2021-11-21}}</ref> Stanfield served as [[premier of Nova Scotia]], governing as a moderate and [[pragmatism|pragmatist]]. He led reforms on education, human rights, and health care. He led the PCs to three re-elections in [[1960 Nova Scotia general election|1960]], [[1963 Nova Scotia general election|1963]], and [[1967 Nova Scotia general election|1967]], each time with larger majorities.<ref name="StanfieldDalhousie" />

====Economic policy====

In 1957, Stanfield's government established the [[crown corporation]] [[Industrial Estates Limited]] (IEL) to attract new industry in Nova Scotia. By the time Stanfield left office in 1967, the IEL had invested $74&nbsp;million into 25 new firms and created nearly 2,300 jobs in the province.<ref name="StanfieldMacleans">{{cite web |title=Robert Lorne Stanfield |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1968/3/1/robert-lorne-stanfield |website=Maclean's |access-date=2022-07-22 |date=1 March 1968 |archive-date=2021-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712051702/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1968/3/1/robert-lorne-stanfield |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1963, Stanfield's government established the Nova Scotia Voluntary Planning Board to assist the minister of finance in creating measures to increase the rate of economic growth through voluntary economic planning.<ref>{{cite web |title=Government Administrative Histories |url=https://archives.novascotia.ca/government-administrative-histories/authority/?ID=83 |website=Nova Scotia Archives |date= 20 April 2020|access-date=2022-07-23}}</ref>

Stanfield's government raised the limit on agricultural loans from $8,000 to $100,000. To aid livestock farmers in building a million dollar slaughterhouse, his government contributed three dollars for every dollar the farmers raised.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=126}} His government also created a provincial parks system.<ref name="StanfieldDalhousie" />

Stanfield's government introduced hospital insurance, as well as a provincial [[sales tax]] (also known as the Hospital Tax) to fund half of it (with the other half being funded by the federal government). The PST, which became effective on January 1, 1959, was initially 5 percent but was later raised to 7 percent. The PST applied to all goods and services except food and children's clothing.{{sfnp|Haliburton|1972|p=52}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Due |first1=John |title=The Nova Scotia Hospital (Sales) Tax: I. Development and Structure |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/cdntj7&div=77&id=&page= |website=HeinOnline |access-date=2022-12-30}}</ref>

Stanfield strongly opposed the [[Bell Telephone Company]]'s takeover bid of Nova Scotia's Maritime Telegraph and Telephone Company (M.T. & T.) in 1966, arguing that a takeover would lead to sharp increases in the cost of the service. After the Bell declined to negotiate with his government within a five-day time frame, Stanfield called a [[special session]] in the legislature; during the session, the legislature passed a bill that prevented the Bell from taking control of M.T. & T., allowing the latter to remain in Nova Scotian control.{{sfnp|Haliburton|1972|p=97}}{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|pp=133–134}}

====Human rights====

Stanfield prioritized human rights, particularly for [[Black Nova Scotians]]. In 1959, Stanfield's government passed the ''Fair Accommodation Practices Act'' to protect against discrimination in public spaces.<ref>Robert Stanfield. 25th Anniversary Launching Speech. In Bridglal Pachai (ed). ''Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission: 25th Anniversary''. 1992. p. 32</ref> In 1962, Stanfield created and led the Interdepartmental Committee on Human Rights<ref>Fred MacKinnon, Commissioner. In Bridglal Pachai (ed). ''Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission: 25th Anniversary''. 1992. p. 36</ref> to support the work of [[William Pearly Oliver|William Oliver]] and other Black Nova Scotians. The year later, Stanfield's government codified and extended earlier legislation in the first ''Human Rights Act of 1963''.<ref>Fred MacKinnon, Commissioner. In Bridglal Pachai (ed). ''Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission: 25th Anniversary''. 1992. p. 40</ref> In 1965, the Stanfield government established the Education fund for Negros and in 1967, created the [[Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission]] with Oliver.<ref>Fred MacKinnon, Commissioner. In Bridglal Pachai (ed). ''Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission: 25th Anniversary''. 1992. p. 45</ref>

====Education policy====

Stanfield's government increased funding for schools and training colleges.<ref name="StanfieldDalhousie" /> His government started to contribute funding towards universities beginning in 1960; between 1960 and 1967, the Stanfield government's contributions towards universities jumped from $250,000 to $25,000,000.{{sfnp|Haliburton|1972|p=99}} His government also introduced a capital assistance program in which the government would fund up to 90 percent of the cost of university buildings. In addition, Stanfield's government improved [[French-language]] education in Nova Scotia by introducing French textbooks (previously, Nova Scotia schools only offered English textbooks) and expanding French-language education to Grade 12 (up from Grade 8).{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=132}}

==Leader of the Official Opposition (1967–1976)==

===1967 Progressive Conservative leadership convention===

Stanfield did not express interest in entering federal politics during the early and mid-1960s. He turned down the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|federal Progressive Conservative Party]] (PC Party) leader and then-prime minister [[John Diefenbaker]]'s proposal that he should enter federal politics in the [[1962 Canadian federal election|1962 federal election]], and did not express interest in becoming party leader (when the idea was suggested by former PC minister [[Alvin Hamilton]]) following the Diefenbaker-led PCs' second defeat in the [[1965 Canadian federal election|1965 federal election]].{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=158}}

In the mid-1960s, the federal Progressive Conservative Party was racked by disunity between supporters and opponents of Diefenbaker. A vocal opponent of Diefenbaker was party president [[Dalton Camp]], who forced [[Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1967|a leadership convention for 1967]].{{sfn|Stursberg|1976|pp=171–176}} Camp was a strong proponent of a potential Stanfield leadership bid. After months of hesitating, Stanfield finally bowed to Camp's pressure and on July 17, 1967, announced his intention to run for leader, on the condition that his finance minister [[George Isaac Smith]] agrees to succeed him as premier. Stanfield had strong delegate support in the [[Atlantic Canada|Atlantic provinces]] but struggled in the [[Prairies]] and [[Quebec]]. Nonetheless, on the convention that was held on September 9, he led on the first four ballots, and won on the fifth ballot, taking 54.3 percent of the delegate vote. Stanfield resigned as premier on September 13.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=157–195}}

===Early months===

Stanfield was elected to the [[House of Commons of Canada|House of Commons]] in a [[by-election]] for the riding of [[Colchester—Hants]] on November 6, 1967.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=209}} He brought the Progressive Conservatives high in the polls, prompting many to expect him to defeat the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] government of the aging [[Lester B. Pearson]]. In February 1968, Stanfield almost forced an election after defeating Pearson's government on a tax bill, leading to several days of confusion over whether or not this counted as a ''de facto'' [[motion of no confidence]] in the government. Ultimately, it was ruled by the [[Governor general of Canada|Governor General]], [[Roland Michener]] that it did not, and while Stanfield immediately called an explicit motion of no confidence in Pearson's government, it failed to pass after the [[New Democratic Party]] and ''[[Ralliement créditiste]]'' declined to support it.<ref>Robertson, Gordon; ''Memoirs of a Very Civil Servant''; pp299-301</ref>

===1968 federal election===

Pearson would soon retire, prompting the Liberals to choose [[Minister of Justice (Canada)|Justice Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]] as its new leader in April 1968. Trudeau subsequently called [[1968 Canadian federal election|an election for June 25]]. Trudeau was a charismatic intellectual and perfectly bilingual. Stanfield's unilingualism and uninspiring speaking style (according to Stanfield biographer [[Geoffrey Stevens (journalist)|Geoffrey Stevens]]) contrasted poorly with the new Liberal leader. The PCs started the election campaign with an internal poll showing them trailing the Liberals by 22 points.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=213}}{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=221}}

Stanfield proposed introducing guaranteed annual income, though failed to explain the number of citizens that would be covered, the minimum income level, and the cost to implement it. Due to concerns that the term "guaranteed annual income" sounded [[socialist]], he eventually switched to using the term "[[negative income tax]]". These mistakes made the policy impossible for voters to understand and harmed the PCs. What also damaged the PCs was the idea of ''deux nations'' (meaning that Canada was one country housing two nations - [[French Canadians]] and [[Anglophone Canadians|English-speaking Canadians]]). [[Marcel Faribault]], the PCs' [[Quebec lieutenant]] and [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|MP]] candidate, was unclear on whether he supported or opposed ''deux nations'' and Stanfield did not drop him as a candidate. This led to the Liberals positioning themselves as the party that supported one Canada. In mid-June, they ran a full-page newspaper advertisement that implied that Stanfield supported ''deux nations''; Stanfield called the ad "a deliberate lie" and insisted he supported one Canada.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=216–221}}

On election night, the Liberals increased their support to form a strong majority government. Though the PCs' popular vote share slightly dropped from 32.4 percent in 1965 to 31.4 percent, their seat count considerably reduced from 94 to 72. The PCs dominated Atlantic Canada but saw a significant decline in popularity in Ontario (as the party's performance in that province was the worst in their history), Quebec, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.{{sfnp|Stevens|1973|p=225–226}}

===1968–1972===

After losing the 1968 election, Stanfield vacationed in Quebec where he participated in [[French language|French]] immersion classes. He vigorously backed [[Official bilingualism in Canada|official bilingualism]] and the Liberals' 1969 ''[[Official Languages Act (Canada)|Official Languages Act]]'' which made French an official language in Canada, arguing the act would strengthen Canadian unity. To his disappointment, 17 out of 72 PC MPs (including his predecessor as leader, John Diefenbaker), voted against the bill.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Robert |title=Robert Stanfield (Obituary) |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-stanfield-obituary |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=19 June 2023 |date=19 January 2004}}</ref>

In 1969, Stanfield was one of 12 out of 72 PC MPs to vote in favour of the Trudeau government's [[Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1968–69|Bill C-150]], which decriminalized homosexuality and allowed [[Abortion in Canada|abortion]] under certain conditions.<ref name="parl.canadiana.ca.2">{{Cite web|url=http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.HOC_2702_114_01/574?r=0&s=1|title=House of Commons Journals, 27th Parliament, 2nd... – Image 574 – Canadian Parliamentary Historical Resources|last=Canadiana|website=parl.canadiana.ca|access-date=2016-07-23}}</ref>

Stanfield initially supported the Trudeau government's October 1970 invocation of the ''[[War Measures Act]]'' to deal with the [[October Crisis]] but later regretted doing so.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/feb04/McQueen.pdf |title=Remembering Robert Stanfield: A Good-Humoured and Gallant Man |access-date=April 13, 2008 |quote=That particular backing [of the ''War Measures Act''] was Stanfield's only regret in a long political life. He later admitted that he wished he had joined his lone dissenting colleague, David MacDonald, who voted against the ''Public Order Temporary Measures Act'' when it came before the House that November. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414090627/http://www.irpp.org/po/archive/feb04/McQueen.pdf |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1972 federal election===
[[File:Stanfield and O'Connor August 1972.jpg|thumb|Stanfield and PC candidate [[Terry O'Connor (politician)|Terry O'Connor]] at a community breakfast in [[Acton, Ontario]] in August 1972<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date= August 2, 1972|title= Stanfield visits Acton, election-free summer|url= https://news.haltonhills.halinet.on.ca/2313796/page/1|work= [[The Acton Free Press]]|pages=1, 3}}</ref>]]
In the [[1972 Canadian federal election|election of 1972]], Stanfield's Tories campaigned on the public's perception that the Liberals were mismanaging the economy as a result of rising unemployment. Though the Liberals started with a 10-point lead over the Progressive Conservatives, the election, held on October 30, saw the PCs win 107 seats and come two seats behind the Liberals who won 109 seats; this was one of the closest elections in Canadian history. The Liberals were able to form a [[minority government]] due to them getting support from the [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|New Democratic Party]] led by [[David Lewis (Canadian politician)|David Lewis]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradburn |first1=Jamie |title=How the NDP saved Pierre Trudeau's government |url=https://www.tvo.org/article/how-the-ndp-saved-pierre-trudeaus-government |website=TVO |access-date=23 April 2022 |date=15 October 2019}}</ref> In the election, Stanfield refused to sign the nomination papers of former [[Moncton]] mayor [[Leonard Jones (politician)|Leonard Jones]]; Jones had won the party nomination but he refused to support official bilingualism which was part of PC policy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Folster |first1=David |title=The trials of Leonard Jones |url=https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1983/7/25/the-trials-of-leonard-jones |website=Maclean's |access-date=2021-11-16 |date=25 July 1983 |archive-date=2021-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116185305/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1983/7/25/the-trials-of-leonard-jones |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===1974 federal election===

In May 1974, the House of Commons passed a [[motion of no confidence]] in the Trudeau government, defeating [[May 1974 Canadian federal budget|its budget bill]] after Trudeau intentionally antagonized Stanfield and Lewis.{{sfn|English|2009|p=233}} This triggered [[1974 Canadian federal election|an election for July 8]]. The election focused mainly on the [[1973–75 recession|current economic recession]], and Stanfield proposed to immediately introduce 90-day [[wage and price controls]] to help reduce the increasing inflation of the era. Trudeau mocked the proposal, saying to a newspaper reporter that it was the equivalent of a magician saying "Zap! You're frozen", and instead promoted a variety of small tax cuts to curb inflation.{{sfn|English|2009|p=237}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bonokoski |first1=Mark |title=BONOKOSKI: The two Trudeaus and the vexing of spiralling inflation |url=https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/bonokoski-the-two-trudeaus-and-the-vexing-of-spiralling-inflation |newspaper=Toronto Sun |access-date=2 July 2023 |date=21 July 2021}}</ref> According to Trudeau’s biographer [[John English (Canadian politician)|John English]], NDP supporters scared of wage controls moved toward the Liberals during the campaign.{{sfn|English|2009|p=238}} Trudeau, in an abrupt reversal, would implement wage and price controls in December 1975 through the passing of the ''[[Anti-Inflation Act]]''.<ref name="Wageandpricecontrols">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Wage and Price Controls |url=http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/eras/eras.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201224522/https://www.canadahistory.ca/sections/eras/trudeau/Wage%20and%20Price%20Controls.html |archive-date=1 February 2023 |access-date=18 June 2023 |website=Canada History}}</ref>

During the campaign, on May 30, 1974, a photo by photojournalist [[Doug Ball]] showing Stanfield fumbling a football thrown by [[Geoffrey Stevens (journalist)|Geoffrey Stevens]] at a stopover in [[North Bay, Ontario]], became one of the defining images of his career. To this day, Canadian political commentators still point to this incident as one of Canada's foremost examples of "image politics", because the photo was chosen for the front pages of newspapers across Canada even though many other photos of Stanfield catching the same football were also available.{{sfnp|CBC Staff|2004}}

The election result showed the Liberals had boosted their support from a minority to a majority government, while the Progressive Conservatives' seat count dropped from 106 to 95. The Progressive Conservatives did well in the [[Atlantic Canada|Atlantic provinces]], and in the [[Western Canada|West]], but strong Liberal support in Ontario and Quebec ensured a Liberal majority government.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Canada: 1974 Parliamentary Elections |url=https://pdba.georgetown.edu/Elecdata/Canada/parl74.html |website=Political Database of the Americas |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>

===Political ideology===

Political science professor [[Ron Dart]] described Stanfield's political philosophy in the 1968 election as a "sort of [[Pink Tory]]ism".<ref>Dart, Ron. The North American High Tory Tradition. Page 83</ref> Historian J. Murray Beck wrote about Stanfield, "Eschewing highly doctrinaire politics, his conservatism, which caused him to be called a "pink" if not a [[Red Tory]], was above all a compassionate conservatism with a genuine concern for the disadvantaged."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beck |first1=J. Murray |title=Robert Lorne Stanfield |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-lorne-stanfield |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=19 June 2023 |date=18 February 2008}}</ref> In a 1976 interview with ''[[Maclean's]]'', Stanfield stated, "Increasing the size of the [[GNP]] is important, but it is not in itself a sufficient goal for a civilized society."<ref name="StanfieldDalhousie" />

===Retirement===
On August 14, 1974, over a month after the election, Stanfield announced his intention to resign as party leader. During the news conference, he stated his preference for a [[French Canadian]] successor as leader. He served as leader of the PCs and leader of the Opposition until February 22, 1976, when he was [[1976 Progressive Conservative leadership election|permanently succeeded]] as leader by [[Joe Clark]]. Stanfield retired from Parliament in the [[1979 Canadian federal election|May 1979 election]] which finally brought the Progressive Conservatives to power (though they would lose the [[1980 Canadian federal election|February 1980 election]] to the Trudeau-led Liberals who won a majority).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Trumbull |first1=Robert |title=Stanfield to Quit as Canadian Party Head |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/15/archives/stanfield-to-quit-as-canadian-party-head-caucus-accepts-decision.html |website=New York Times |access-date=19 June 2023 |date=15 August 1974}}</ref>

==Later years (1976–2003)==

After his retirement, Stanfield stayed out of politics until the constitutional debates, when he endorsed and campaigned for the [[Meech Lake Accord]], the [[Charlottetown Accord]], and [[free trade]]. He said that the Meech Lake Accord was a second chance to save Canada from disaster. "I'm not at all sure that I would want to live in a country that rejected Meech Lake," he said at the time. "It wouldn't be the Canada I grew up in. It wouldn't be the country with the values that I've loved during my life." Prime Minister [[Brian Mulroney]] wanted to appoint Stanfield as [[Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations|U.N. ambassador]] saying, "I tried to engage him further but he was leading a vigorous life and a very active life and he didn't want to change after a while."<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Tory leader Robert Stanfield remembered as man of 'great warmth, humility'|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/former-tory-leader-robert-stanfield-remembered-as-man-of-great-warmth-humility-1.389407|work=CBC News|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=Dec 17, 2003|access-date=2017-05-26}}</ref>

From 1983 to 1987, Stanfield served as chairman of the [[Institute for Research on Public Policy]]. He also served as the first Canadian chairman of the [[Commonwealth Foundation]] from December 1986 to 1991.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beck |first1=J. Murray |title=Robert Lorne Stanfield |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/robert-lorne-stanfield |website=Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=2023-01-01 |date=18 February 2008}}</ref>

===Illness and death===
In 1996, Stanfield suffered a debilitating stroke that left him severely disabled. He died on December 16, 2003, at [[Montfort Hospital]] in [[Ottawa]], from pneumonia, only nine days after the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the [[Canadian Alliance]] to form the new [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. Fellow Nova Scotian — and final PC Party Leader — [[Peter MacKay]] suggested in an interview on [[CBC News Network|CBC Newsworld]]'s December 17, 2003 Morning Show that he had not personally spoken to Stanfield in regard to his opinions on the merger.<ref>{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Robert Stanfield dead at 89 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/robert-stanfield-dead-at-89-1.375151 |website=CBC News |access-date=19 June 2023 |date=17 December 2003}}</ref>{{sfnp|Hiscox|2003}} It is unknown what Stanfield thought of the creation of the new Conservatives. His funeral service was held in Ottawa, and then he was buried in [[Camp Hill Cemetery]], [[Halifax (former city)|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]], next to his first wife Joyce Frazee, mother of his four children: Sarah, Max, Judith and Miriam, and with his second wife Mary Hall.{{sfnp|Lunman|2003}}

==Personal life==
Stanfield married Joyce Frazee in 1940, but she died in a car accident in 1954. During his term as premier, Stanfield remarried, exchanging vows with Mary Hall in 1957. Mary Stanfield died of cancer in 1977, and the following year, Stanfield married his third wife, Anne Austin.{{sfnp|Fraser|2003|p=A10}} Anne Austin Stanfield died, age 89, April 22, 2021.

==Honours==
[[File:HFX Airport 8.jpg|thumb|right|Bronze plaque of Stanfield at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport]]
In July 1967, Stanfield and other provincial premiers were sworn into the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/services/queens.html|title = Queen's Privy Council for Canada|date = 11 December 2017}}</ref> on the occasion of Canada's centennial.

On July 1, 1992, as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations, the Queen on advice of Prime Minister [[Brian Mulroney]] granted Stanfield and six former cabinet ministers ([[Alvin Hamilton]], [[Ellen Fairclough]], [[Jack Pickersgill]], [[Paul Martin Sr.]], [[Jean-Luc Pepin]] and [[Martial Asselin]]) the right to use the title "[[The Right Honourable]]".{{sfnp|Canadian Press|1992}}  He is one of nine Canadians entitled to the title without having held an office which such title is automatically conferred (the other two being former [[Deputy prime minister of Canada|Deputy Prime Ministers]] [[Donald Mazankowski]] and [[Herb Gray]]).
In 2007, [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport|Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport]] was named after him by Prime Minister [[Stephen Harper]]. He was also a Fellow of the [[Royal Canadian Geographical Society|Royal Canadian Geographical Society (FRCGS)]].

==Honorary degrees==
Robert Stanfield was awarded several honorary Degrees in recognition of His service to Canada, These Include

;Honorary Degrees
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:20%;"| Location
! style="width:20%;"| Date
! style="width:40%;"| School
! style="width:20%;"| Degree
|-
| {{Flagu|Nova Scotia}} || '''1967''' || [[Dalhousie University]] || [[Doctor of Engineering]] (D.Eng)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dal.ca/academics/convocation/history_traditions/honorary_degree_recipients/hon_degree_1892_1999.html |title=1892 ‑ 1999 Honorary Degree Recipients - Convocation - Dalhousie University |access-date=2018-07-26 |archive-date=2018-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521191502/https://www.dal.ca/academics/convocation/history_traditions/honorary_degree_recipients/hon_degree_1892_1999.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Quebec}} || '''11 October 1967''' || [[McGill University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.mcgill.ca/senate/files/senate/list_of_mcgill_honorary_degree_recipients_from_1935_to_spring_2018.pdf | title=List of McGill Honorary Degree Recipients from 1935 to Spring 2018 | access-date=2018-07-26 | archive-date=2018-07-26 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726072203/https://www.mcgill.ca/senate/files/senate/list_of_mcgill_honorary_degree_recipients_from_1935_to_spring_2018.pdf | url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Nova Scotia}} || '''12 May 1969''' || [[Saint Mary's University (Halifax)|Saint Mary's University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smu.ca/academics/archives/1952-1970.html|title = 1952-1970 {{pipe}} Saint Mary's University}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''May 1985''' || [[McMaster University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcmaster.ca/univsec/reports_lists/S_HD_Recipients.pdf|title = University Secretariat}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|Ontario}} || '''June 1988''' || [[University of Toronto]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web| title=Honorary Degree Recipients | url=http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Boards+and+Committees/Committee+for+Honorary+Degrees/degreerecipients1850tillnow.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228153430/http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/Assets/Governing+Council+Digital+Assets/Boards+and+Committees/Committee+for+Honorary+Degrees/degreerecipients1850tillnow.pdf | archive-date=2011-02-28}}</ref>
|-
| {{Flagu|New Brunswick}} || '''1990''' || [[Mount Allison University]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mta.ca/Community/Governance_and_admin/Governance/Board_of_Regents/Board_committees/Honorary_degrees/Honorary_degree_recipients_20th_century/Honorary_degree_recipients_20th_century/|title=Mount Allison University {{pipe}} Honorary degree recipients 20th century|access-date=2018-07-26|archive-date=2018-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162150/https://www.mta.ca/Community/Governance_and_admin/Governance/Board_of_Regents/Board_committees/Honorary_degrees/Honorary_degree_recipients_20th_century/Honorary_degree_recipients_20th_century/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|}
{{Incomplete list|date=July 2018}}

== Federal electoral record ==
{{1974 Canadian federal election/Halifax}}
{{1972 Canadian federal election/Halifax}}
{{1968 Canadian federal election/Halifax}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite news
   | title     = Hockey star, scientist among 22 appointees to Privy Council
   | newspaper = The Globe and Mail
   | date      = 1992-07-02
   | author    = Canadian Press
   | location  = Toronto
   | page      = A4
   }}
* {{cite news
 |title       = An unforgettable fumble for Robert Stanfield
 |url         = http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/elections/fumbles-and-stumbles-eight-great-election-gaffes/an-unforgettable-fumble.html
 |access-date  = 2013-12-21
 |newspaper   = The National
 |publisher   = CBC News
 |date        = 2004-06-02
 |author      = CBC Staff
 |location    = Toronto
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131224103701/http://www.cbc.ca/archives/categories/politics/elections/fumbles-and-stumbles-eight-great-election-gaffes/an-unforgettable-fumble.html
 |archive-date = 2013-12-24
 |url-status     = live
}}
*{{Cite book
   | last      = Clippingdale
   | first     = Richard
   | title     = Robert Stanfield's Canada: Perspectives of the Best Prime Minister We Never Had
   | year      = 2008
   | publisher = McGill Queens University Press
   | location  = Kingston, Ontario
   | isbn      = 978-1-55339-218-7
   | url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=Qfl5AAAAMAAJ&q=Stanfield%27s+Clothing
  }}
* {{cite news
   | last      = Cox
   | first     = Kevin
   | title     = Nova Scotians proudly recall a political icon
   | newspaper = The Globe and Mail
   | date      = 2003-12-18
   | location  = Toronto
   | page      = A10
  }}
* {{cite book
    |last = English
    |first = John |author-link=John English (Canadian politician)
    |title = Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau Volume Two: 1968–2000
    |location = Toronto
    |publisher = Knopf Canada
    |isbn = 978-0-676-97523-9
    |year = 2009
    |url-access = 
    |url =  }}
* {{cite news
   | last      = Fraser
   | first     = Graham
   | title     = The best PM Canada never had
   | newspaper = The Toronto Star
   | date      = 2003-12-18
   | page      = A10
  }}
*{{cite book
    |last1      =  Haliburton
    |first1     =  Ed
    |title      =  My years with Stanfield
    | year      =  1972
    |publisher  =  Lancelot Press
    |location   =  Windsor, Nova Scotia
    |url        =  https://openlibrary.org/works/OL7231085W/My_years_with_Stanfield?edition=key%3A/books/OL5497005M#edition-overview
  }}
* {{cite news
   | last       = Hiscox
   | first      = Heather
   | author-link = Heather Hiscox
   | title      = Death of Robert Stanfield
   | newspaper  = CBC News Morning
   | publisher  = CBC News
   | date       = 2003-12-17
   | location   = Toronto
}}
* {{cite news
   | last1      = Laghi
   | first1     = Brian
   | title     = Robert Stanfield 1914–2003: 'Too good for public service'
   | newspaper = The Globe and Mail
   | date      = 2003-12-18
   | last2     = Cox
   | first2    = Kevin
   | location  = Toronto
   | page      = R7
}}
* {{cite news
   | last      = Lunman
   | first     = Kim
   | title     = Ottawa bids Stanfield goodbye
   | newspaper = The Globe and Mail
   | date      = 2003-12-20
   | location  = Toronto
   | page      = A9
}}
*{{Cite book
   | last      = Stevens
   | first     = Geoffrey
   | title     = Stanfield
   | year      = 1973
   | publisher = McClelland & Stewart
   | location  = Toronto
   | isbn = 9780771083587
 | url       = https://archive.org/details/stanfield00stev
   | url-access = registration
}}
* {{citation | last = Stursberg | first = Peter | year = 1976 | title = Diefenbaker: Leadership Lost 1962–67 | publisher = University of Toronto Press | isbn = 0-8020-2225-1 | url = https://archive.org/details/diefenbakerleade0000unse | url-access = registration}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=1212}}
* [http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=105865&lang=eng&ecopy=e010790221 Robert Stanfield fonds] at [[Library and Archives Canada]]
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030826152852/http://www.quorumreview.ca/qr0103/stanfield.htm |date=August 26, 2003 |title=The Party that Stanfield Rebuilt }} Article on Stanfield and the Nova Scotia Tories.

{{Canadian federal opposition leaders}}
{{Canadian Conservative Leaders}}
{{NSPremiers}}
{{Portal bar|Canada|Nova Scotia|Biography|Politics|Law}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanfield, Robert}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Canadian Anglicans]]
[[Category:Canadian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Dalhousie University alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Ontario]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers in Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition (Canada)]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:People from Truro, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Premiers of Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia MLAs]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society]]
[[Category:Nova Scotia political party leaders]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]