14 Facts About Erik Nielsen

Erik Nielsen served as the longtime Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament for Yukon, and was Leader of the Opposition and the third deputy prime minister of Canada.

Erik Nielsen was the elder brother of actor Leslie Nielsen.

Erik Nielsen's mother, Mabel Elizabeth, was an immigrant from Wales, and his father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Erik Nielsen's family lived mainly in Alberta during his formative years, and he graduated from high school in Edmonton in 1942.

Erik Nielsen joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942, just after graduation, and received his training mainly in Alberta.

Erik Nielsen flew 33 missions in No 101 Squadron RAF in World War II, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for "courage and devotion to duty".

Erik Nielsen was elected to parliament in late 1957 and remained an MP without interruption for 30 years.

Erik Nielsen was a backbench MP during the Diefenbaker government but became prominent during the Conservative Party's long period in Opposition during the 1960s and 1970s joining the shadow cabinet in 1964.

Erik Nielsen served as Leader of the Opposition in 1983 between the resignation of Joe Clark and the election of Brian Mulroney as PC leader, and continued to lead the party in the House until Mulroney won a seat in a by-election, at which point Erik Nielsen returned to his previous position as House Leader.

Erik Nielsen was effectively the senior Government House Leader in all but name.

Erik Nielsen served as Minister of National Defence from 1985 to 1986.

Erik Nielsen resigned his seat in Parliament in January 1987 when he was given the position of chairman of the National Transportation Agency.

Erik Nielsen withdrew from the public service in 1992 to become president of Solar Engineering, Hawaii Inc and Solar Electric Engineering Distributors Canada.

Erik Nielsen died at his home in Kelowna, British Columbia on September 4,2008, from a massive heart attack.