Policy Options magazine asked 30 historians, political scientists, economists, journalists and policy advisers from across Canada to pick their top five choices for best provincial premier since 1972. (CP)
MONTREAL - Policy Options magazine asked 30 historians, political scientists, economists, journalists and policy advisers from across Canada to pick their top five choices for best provincial premier since 1972.
The magazine is published by the Institute for Research on Public Policy, an independent, national, bilingual, non-profit organization,
The 30 were asked to rank the top five from a list of 18 potential candidates, the winner was the only premier chosen by all jurors, and 21 chose the winning leader in the number 1 position.
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Who Was Canada's Best Premier?
Policy Options magazine asked 30 historians, political scientists, economists, journalists and policy advisers from across Canada to pick their top five choices for best provincial premier since 1972. Here are the answers. (CP)
5. Robert Bourassa
Bourassa served as premier of Quebec from 1970 - 1976 and then from 1985 - 1994. (CP)
4. Frank McKenna
McKenna served as premier of New Brunswick from 1987 to 1997. (CP)
3. Allan Blakeney
Blakeney served as premier of Saskatchewan from 1971 - 1982. (CP)
2. William Davis
Davis served as premier of Ontario from 1971 - 1985. (CP)
1. Peter Lougheed
Lougheed served as premier of Alberta from 1971 - 1985.<br><br>
The magnitude of support for Lougheed in the survey spanned the country, with first-place votes in all regions Jury members were also asked to rate premiers according to nine questions pertaining to various aspects of leadership, such as vision and communications, fiscal and economic management, intergovernmental relations and other important files. Lougheed's ratings were higher than the others on all questions, and ranged from 4.23 on interprovincial relations to 4.77 on ability to win over voters and elections. (CP)
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How Old Were Our Prime Ministers?
Here's a look at how old each Prime Minister was on the day he or she was sworn in.
Sir John A. Macdonald - 52
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir Alexander Mackenzie - 51
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir John Abbott - 70
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir John Thompson - 47
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir Mackenzie Bowell - 70
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir Charles Tupper - 74
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier - 54
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Sir Robert Borden - 57
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Arthur Meighen - 46
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
William Lyon Mackenzie King - 47
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
R. B. Bennett - 60
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Louis St. Laurent - 66
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
John Diefenbaker - 61
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Lester B. Pearson - 65
(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada" target="_hplink">Wikimedia</a>)
Pierre Trudeau - 48
(CP)
Joe Clark - 39
(CP)
John Turner - 55
(CP)
Brian Mulroney - 45
(CP)
Kim Campbell - 46
(CP)
Jean Chrétien - 59
(CP)
Paul Martin - 65
(CP)
Stephen Harper - 46
(CP)
5. Robert Bourassa
4. Frank McKenna
3. Allan Blakeney
2. William Davis
1. Peter Lougheed
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CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 05/03/2012 11:11 pm Updated: 05/04/2012 11:05 am