# John Allen Fraser

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Canadian politician (1931–2024)

The Honourable John Allen Fraser PC OC OBC CD KC Fraser in 1987 32nd Speaker of the House of Commons In office September 30, 1986 – January 16, 1994 Preceded by John Bosley Succeeded by Gilbert Parent Minister of Fisheries and Oceans In office September 17, 1984 – September 23, 1985 Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Preceded by Herb Breau Succeeded by Erik Nielsen (interim) Minister of the Environment In office June 4, 1979 – March 2, 1980 Prime Minister Joe Clark Preceded by Leonard Marchand Succeeded by John Roberts Member of Parliament for Vancouver South In office October 30, 1972 – October 25, 1993 Preceded by Arthur Laing Succeeded by Herb Dhaliwal Personal details Born (1931-12-15)December 15, 1931 Yokohama, Empire of Japan Died April 7, 2024(2024-04-07) (aged 92) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[1] Party Progressive Conservative

**John Allen Fraser** [PC](/source/King's_Privy_Council_for_Canada) [OC](/source/Order_of_Canada) [OBC](/source/Order_of_British_Columbia) [CD](/source/Canadian_Forces'_Decoration) [KC](/source/King's_Counsel) (December 15, 1931 – April 7, 2024) was a Canadian politician who was [speaker](/source/Speaker_(politics)) of the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_Canada) from 1986 to 1994. He also served as Canada's [Minister of the Environment](/source/Minister_of_the_Environment_(Canada)), [Minister of Fisheries and Oceans](/source/Minister_of_Fisheries_and_Oceans_(Canada)) and Ambassador to the United Nations for the Environment.

## Life and career

Fraser was born on December 15, 1931, in [Yokohama](/source/Yokohama), Japan,[2] where his father was working as a lumber salesman. His parents returned to [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia) when Fraser was four years old.[3] He grew up and was educated there and graduated from the [University of British Columbia Faculty of Law](/source/University_of_British_Columbia_Faculty_of_Law) in Spring 1954.[4] Fraser first won a seat in [Parliament](/source/Parliament_of_Canada) in the [1972 general election](/source/1972_Canadian_federal_election) as a [Progressive Conservative](/source/Progressive_Conservative_Party_of_Canada) from [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver).[2] He stood as a candidate at the [1976 Progressive Conservative leadership convention](/source/1976_Progressive_Conservative_leadership_election) to replace [Robert Stanfield](/source/Robert_Stanfield), but did poorly and withdrew after the first ballot.[5] He was re-elected in [1974](/source/1974_Canadian_federal_election), [1979](/source/1979_Canadian_federal_election), [1980](/source/1980_Canadian_federal_election), [1984](/source/1984_Canadian_federal_election), and [1988](/source/1988_Canadian_federal_election).[2]

In 1979, Fraser became [Minister of the Environment](/source/Minister_of_the_Environment_(Canada)) in the short-lived government of [Joe Clark](/source/Joe_Clark), returning to the [Opposition](/source/Opposition_(parliamentary)) benches in 1980. He returned to the [Cabinet](/source/Cabinet_of_Canada) in the wake of [Brian Mulroney](/source/Brian_Mulroney)'s landslide victory in the 1984 federal election and became [Minister of Fisheries and Oceans](/source/Minister_of_Fisheries_and_Oceans_(Canada)). He was forced to resign in 1985 as a result of the "[Tainted Tuna](/source/Tunagate)" affair.[2]

In 1986, he became [Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada](/source/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_of_Canada), the first to be elected by fellow [Members of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(Canada)), and served in that capacity until his retirement from politics in 1993.[2]

In January 1994, Fraser was appointed as Canada's Ambassador to the United Nations for the Environment, a post he served until December 1997.[2]

Fraser died in Vancouver on April 7, 2024, at the age of 92.[6][7][1]

## Honours

In 1995, he was made an Officer of the [Order of Canada](/source/Order_of_Canada).[8] In 2002, he was the recipient of the [Vimy Award](/source/Vimy_Award), which recognizes a Canadian "who has made a significant and outstanding contribution to the defence and security of our nation and the preservation of our democratic values."[9][10]

Coat of arms of John Allen Fraser Crest Issuant from a coronet rim Argent set with maple leaves Gules alternating with thistle flowers Argent a demi cougar Azure holding in its dexter forepaw the baton of office of the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada that is a rod Vert at either end tipped and dovetailed inwards Argent ensigned with a lion sejant Argent its dexter forepaw resting on a coronet érablé Argent the rim set with twelve jewels Gules Escutcheon Azure on a chevron between three fraises Argent three roses Gules Supporters On a grassy mound strewn with shamrocks Vert two cougars Sable semé of fraises Or gorged with wing collars Argent; Motto NOUS SOMMES PREST (We Are Ready) [11] Badge A cougar's head erased Azure gorged with a coronet erablé Or the rim charged with three fraises Gules;

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-globeObit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-globeObit_1-1) ["John Fraser"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240413180545/https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/john-fraser-obituary?id=54856908). *[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)*. April 12, 2024. Archived from [the original](https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/john-fraser-obituary?id=54856908) on April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024 – via [Legacy.com](/source/Legacy.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-speaker_2-5) [John Allen Fraser – Parliament of Canada biography](https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=5017)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Fraser, The Hon. John A. (1979). "The Environmental Partnership in North America". *Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association*. **29** (12): 1212–1213. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/00022470.1979.10470918](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00022470.1979.10470918).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Cholmondeley, Penny (2009). ["The Honourable John A. Fraser"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111118124006/http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/alumni/magazine/AlumniMag_winter09.pdf) (PDF). *UBC Law Alumni Magazine*. [University of British Columbia](/source/University_of_British_Columbia). pp. 16–17. Archived from [the original](http://www.law.ubc.ca/files/pdf/alumni/magazine/AlumniMag_winter09.pdf) (PDF) on November 18, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Wagner led on every ballot – except the last one"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-wagner-led-on-every-ballot/147964262/). *[The Gazette](/source/The_Gazette_(Montreal))*. Ottawa, Ontario. [The Canadian Press](/source/The_Canadian_Press). February 23, 1976. p. 11. Retrieved May 23, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["National Flag of Canada half-masting notices"](https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/half-masting-notices.html). May 3, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2024. Additionally, the flag on the Peace Tower will fly at half-mast from sunrise to sunset on the day of the funeral or the memorial service (date to be determined) of the late John Allen Fraser, who passed away on April 7, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["John Allen Fraser, first House Speaker elected by secret ballot, has died"](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/john-fraser-former-speaker-dies-1.7168762). CBC News. April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [Order of Canada citation](https://web.archive.org/web/1/http://archive.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=3469) (archived)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["2002 Vimy Award Recipient – The Honourable John A Fraser"](http://cda-cdai.ca/cdai/the-vimy-awards/2002-john-fraser). Conference of Defence Associations Institute. Retrieved October 7, 2009.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [e-Veritas » Blog Archive » Misc](http://www.rmcclub.ca/everitaswp/?p=1430#more-1430) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081207122811/http://www.rmcclub.ca/everitaswp/?p=1430) December 7, 2008, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Fraser, John Allen \[Individual\]"](http://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/project.asp?lang=e&ProjectID=1627&ShowAll=1). November 12, 2020.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[John Allen Fraser](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/John_Allen_Fraser)***.

v t e Cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney (1984–93) Brian Mulroney Harvie Andre Perrin Beatty André Bissonnette Pierre Blais Suzanne Blais-Grenier Benoît Bouchard Lucien Bouchard Pauline Browes Pierre Cadieux Kim Campbell Pat Carney Andrée Champagne Jean Charest Joe Clark Robert Coates Mary Collins Jean Corbeil Michel Côté David Crombie John Crosbie Marcel Danis Robert de Cotret Paul Dick Jake Epp John Fraser George Hees Ray Hnatyshyn Tom Hockin Otto Jelinek James Kelleher Roch La Salle Monique Landry Robert Layton Doug Lewis Gilles Loiselle Flora MacDonald Elmer MacKay Shirley Martin Marcel Masse Charles Mayer Don Mazankowski John McDermid Barbara McDougall Stewart McInnes Bill McKnight Walter McLean Thomas McMillan Gerald Merrithew Lowell Murray Jack Murta Erik Nielsen Frank Oberle Alan Redway Dufferin Roblin Tom Siddon Gerry St. Germain Sinclair Stevens Bernard Valcourt Monique Vézina Pierre H. Vincent Gerry Weiner Michael Wilson William Winegard John Wise

v t e Cabinet of Prime Minister Joe Clark (1979–1980) Joe Clark Lincoln Alexander Martial Asselin Ron Atkey Walter Baker Perrin Beatty David Crombie John Crosbie Robert de Cotret Jake Epp Jacques Flynn John Fraser Heward Grafftey Ray Hnatyshyn Robert Howie Ron Huntington William H. Jarvis Roch La Salle Allan Lawrence David MacDonald Flora MacDonald Elmer MacKay Don Mazankowski James McGrath Allan McKinnon Erik Nielsen Steve Paproski Sinclair Stevens Michael Wilson John Wise

v t e Speakers of the Canadian House of Commons Cockburn Anglin Blanchet Kirkpatrick Ouimet White Edgar Bain Brodeur Belcourt Sutherland Marcil Sproule Sévigny Rhodes Lemieux Black Bowman Casgrain Glen Fauteux Macdonald Beaudoin Michener Lambert Macnaughton Lamoureux Jerome Sauvé Francis Bosley Fraser Parent Milliken Scheer Regan Rota Plamondon (interim) Fergus Scarpaleggia

v t e Ministers of fisheries and oceans of Canada Marine and fisheries (1867–1930)1 Mitchell Smith Pope McLelan Foster Tupper Costigan Davies Sutherland Préfontaine Laurier (acting) Brodeur Lemieux Hazen Ballantyne Lapointe Cardin Black (acting) Patenaude (acting) Cardin (acting) Fisheries (1930–69) Macmillan Rhodes Duranleau (acting) Stirling (acting) Ernst Michaud Bertrand Bridges Bertrand (acting) Gregg MacKinnon Mayhew Sinclair MacLean Robichaud Davis Fisheries and forestry (1969–71) Davis Environment (1971–76)2 Davis Sauvé R. LeBlanc (acting) Marchand R. LeBlanc State (fisheries) (1974–76) R. LeBlanc Fisheries and the environment (1976–79) R. LeBlanc Fisheries and oceans (1979–2015) R. LeBlanc McGrath R. LeBlanc de Bané Breau Fraser Nielsen Siddon Valcourt Crosbie Reid Tobin Dingwall (acting) Mifflin Anderson Dhaliwal Thibault Regan Hearn Shea Ashfield Shea Fisheries, oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (2015–) Tootoo D. LeBlanc Wilkinson Jordan Murray Lebouthillier Thompson 1The office of Minister of Marine and Fisheries was abolished and the offices of Minister of Fisheries and Minister of Marine were created in 1930. The minister of marine was a precursor to the minister of transport. 2From 1971 to 1976, the minister of the environment was also the minister of fisheries.

v t e Ministers of the environment of Canada Environment (1971–1976)1 Davis Sauvé LeBlanc (acting) J. Marchand LeBlanc (acting) Fisheries and the environment (1976–1979) LeBlanc State (environment) (1977–1979) L. Marchand Environment (1979–2015) L. Marchand Fraser Roberts Caccia Blais-Grenier McMillan Bouchard Oberle (acting) de Cotret Charest Vincent Copps Marchi Stewart Anderson Dion Ambrose Baird Prentice Baird Kent Aglukkaq Environment and climate change (2015–2025) McKenna Wilkinson Guilbeault Duguid Dabrusin Environment, climate change and nature (2025–present) Dabrusin 1From 1971 to 1976 the minister of the environment was also the minister of fisheries.

v t e Postmasters general of Canada Campbell O'Connor Macdonald Fournier Huntington Langevin Campbell O'Connor Campbell O'Connor Carling Campbell McLelan Carling (acting) Haggart Caron Taillon Mulock Aylesworth Lemieux Béland Pelletier Casgrain Blondin Belley Murphy Manion Veniot Sauvé Gobeil Elliott McLarty Power Ilsley (acting) Mulock Bertrand Rinfret Côté Pinard (acting) Lapointe Hamilton MacLean (acting) Fairclough Denis Nicholson Tremblay Côté Kierans Côté Ouellet Mackasey Blais Lamontagne Fraser Ouellet1 1The office of Postmaster General was abolished when the Post Office Department became a Crown Corporation known as the Canada Post Corporation on October 16, 1981.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Allen Fraser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Fraser) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Allen_Fraser?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.