The 30th Canadian Parliament was in session from September 30, 1974, until March 26, 1979. The membership was set by the 1974 election on July 8, 1974, and was only changed somewhat due to resignations and by-elections before it was dissolved prior to the 1979 election.
There were four sessions of the 30th Parliament: SessionStartEnd 1st September 30, 1974 October 12, 1976 2nd October 12, 1976 October 17, 1977 3rd October 18, 1977 October 10, 1978 4th October 11, 1978 March 26, 1979
Overview It was controlled by a Liberal Party majority led by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the 20th Canadian Ministry. The Official Opposition was the Progressive Conservative Party, led first by Robert Stanfield, and then by Joe Clark.
The sessions were prorogued (reason unknown currently).
Queen Elizabeth II opened the 3rd session during her Silver Jubilee visit to Canada.
Party standings
The party standings as of the election and as of dissolution were as follows: AffiliationHouse membersSenate members1974 electionresultsAt dissolutionOn electionday 1974Members of the Canadian Senate are appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister and remain as senators until the age of 75, even if the House of Commons has been dissolved or an election has been called.At dissolution141133767395981818161700119111522Independent Liberal0011Total members26426398920249Total seats264102104
Major events
Criminal law reform The 30th Canadian Parliament saw changes to a number of elements of Canadian criminal law. These changes were made through the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1975, Criminal Law Amendment Act (No. 2), 1976, Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1977.
Death penalty Since 1966, legislation temporarily suspending the death penalty for all crimes except the murder of a police officer or prison guard had been in place. In 1976, a contentious debate on the future of death penalty was held in the House of Commons. The Criminal Law Amendment Act (No. 2), 1976, permanently banning the death penalty, passed in the House on July 14, 1976 by a vote of 131 in favour to 124 against and received royal assent on July 26, 1976. This legislation did not override the death penalty clauses in the National Defence Act, which allowed application of capital punishment in cases of cowardice, desertion, unlawful surrender, or spying. These clauses were removed in 1998 under the government of Jean Chrétien.
Canada joins the G7
The G6, a meeting of the worlds dominant economic powers, had been conceived of and executed by French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in 1975. Canada was not invited as d’Estaing did not believe the country's economy was powerful enough to be relevant. The meeting was originally intended as a one time event, but in 1976 American president Gerald Ford initiated a second meeting of the group. Due to the alignment between Canadian and American interests, Ford insisted that Canada be allowed to join the group, and the G6 became the G7.
1976 Canadian general strike
In 1975, the Trudeau government passed the Anti-Inflation Act which implemented statutory wage and price controls. One year later, on October 14, 1976, the Canadian Labour Congress initiated a one day general strike in which one million Canadian workers refused to work. This remains the largest workers strike in Canadian history.
Publicly owned energy: Petro-Canada In 1973, the OAPEC oil crisis sent oil prices skyrocketing across the western world. Though this benefited Alberta's oil sector, it generated massive inflation and economic chaos for the country as a whole.
In an attempt to work toward energy independence, Petro-Canada, a government-owned oil company was created in 1975.
Ministry
The 20th Canadian Ministry began near the end of the 27th Canadian Parliament and governed throughout the 28th Canadian Parliament, 29th Canadian Parliament, and 30th Canadian Parliament.
Officeholders
Head of State OfficePhotoNameAssumed officeLeft officeSovereignElizabeth IIFebruary 6, 1952September 8, 2022Governor GeneralJules LégerJanuary 14, 1974January 22, 1979Roland MichenerJanuary 22, 1979May 14,1984
Party leadership PartyPhotoNameAssumed OfficeLeft OfficeLiberalPierre TrudeauApril 6, 1968June 16, 1984Progressive ConservativeRobert StanfieldNovember 6, 1967November 21, 1976Joe ClarkNovember 20, 1976June 3, 1979New DemocraticDavid LewisApril 24, 1971July 6, 1975Ed BroadbentJuly 7, 1975December 5, 1989Social CreditRéal Caouette19711976André-Gilles Fortin1976June 24, 1977Gilles Caouette (interim)19771978Lorne Reznowski19781978Charles-Arthur Gauthier (interim)19781978
House of Commons
Presiding officer OfficePhotoOfficerRidingFromToPartySpeaker of the House of CommonsJames JeromeSudburySeptember 30, 1974February 17, 1980Progressive Conservative
Government leadership (Liberal) OfficePhotoOfficerRidingFromToPrime MinisterPierre TrudeauMount RoyalApril 20, 1968June 4, 1979March 3, 1980June 30, 1984House LeaderMitchell SharpEglintonAugust 8, 1974September 13, 1976Allan MacEachenCape Breton Highlands—CansoSeptember 14, 1976March 26, 1979WhipThomas LefebvrPontiacDecember 1972October 1975Joseph-Philippe GuaySt. BonifaceOctober 19751977Gus MacFarlaneHamilton Mountain19791979
Changes to Party Standings
By-elections
Parliamentarians
House of Commons Members of the House of Commons in the 30th parliament arranged by province.
Key: Party leaders are italicized. Parliamentary secretaries is indicated by "". Cabinet ministers are in boldface. The Prime Minister is both. The Speaker is indicated by "()".
Newfoundland RidingMemberPolitical partyFirst elected / previously electedNo. of termsBonavista—Trinity—ConceptionDave RooneyLiberal19722nd termBurin—BurgeoDonald JamiesonLiberal19664th termGander—TwillingateGeorge Baker Liberal19741st termGrand Falls—White Bay—LabradorBill Rompkey Liberal19722nd termHumber—St. George's—St. BarbeJack MarshallProgressive Conservative19683rd termFonse Faour (1978)*NDP19781st termSt. John's EastJames McGrathProgressive Conservative1957, 19686th term*St. John's WestWalter CarterProgressive Conservative19683rd termJohn Crosbie (1976)**Progressive Conservative19761st term * Jack Marshall left parliament and was replaced by Fonse Faour in an October 16, 1978, by-election ** Walter Carter resigned to re-enter provincial election and was replaced by John Crosbie in an October 18, 1976 by-election
Prince Edward Island RidingMemberPolitical partyFirst elected / previously electedNo. of termsCardiganDaniel J. MacDonaldLiberal19722nd termEgmontDavid MacDonaldProgressive Conservative19654th termHillsboroughHeath MacQuarrieProgressive Conservative19578th termMalpequeAngus MacLeanProgressive Conservative195110th termDonald Wood (1977)*Liberal19771st term * Angus MacLean resigned to enter provincial election and was replaced by Donald Wood in a May 24, 1977 by-election
Nova Scotia RidingMemberPolitical partyFirst elected / previously electedNo. of termsAnnapolis ValleyPat NowlanProgressive Conservative19654th termCape Breton Highlands—CansoAllan MacEachenLiberal1953, 19628th term*Cape Breton—East RichmondAndrew HoganNew Democrat19741st termCape Breton—The SydneysRobert MuirProgressive Conservative19578th termCentral NovaElmer MacKayProgressive Conservative19713rd termCumberland—Colchester NorthRobert CoatesProgressive Conservative19578th termDartmouth—Halifax EastMichael ForrestallProgressive Conservative19654th termHalifaxRobert StanfieldProgressive Conservative19674th termHalifax—East HantsRobert McCleave Progressive Conservative1957, 19657th term*Howard Crosby (1978)*Progressive Conservative19781st termSouth Shore Lloyd CrouseProgressive Conservative19578th termSouth Western Nova Coline Campbell Liberal19741st term * Robert McCleave resigned to become a judge and was replaced by Howard Crosby in an October 16, 1978 by-election
New Brunswick RidingMemberPolitical partyFirst elected / previously electedNo. of termsCarleton—CharlotteFred McCainProgressive Conservative19722nd termFundy—RoyalRobert Fairweather Progressive Conservative19626th termRobert Corbett (1978)*Progressive Conservative19781st termGloucesterHerb Breau Liberal19683rd termMadawaska—VictoriaEymard CorbinLiberal19683rd termMonctonLeonard C. JonesIndependent19741st termNorthumberland—MiramichiMaurice Dionne Liberal19741st termRestigoucheJean-Eudes Dubé Liberal19626th termMaurice Harquail (1975)** Liberal19751st termSaint John—LancasterMike Landers Liberal19741st termWestmorland—KentRoméo LeBlancLiberal19722nd termYork—SunburyJ. Robert HowieProgressive Conservative19722nd term * Robert Fairweather resigned to become Canada's first Human Rights Commissioner and was replaced by Robert Corbett in an October 16, 1978 by-election ** Jean-Eudes Dubé resigned and was replaced by Maurice Harquail in an October 14, 1975 by-election
Quebec