1. Gildas Molgat served as leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party from 1961 to 1969, and was appointed to the Senate of Canada, where he served as Speaker from 1994 until 2001.
16 Facts About Gildas Molgat
1. 2.
The son of Louis F Molgat and Adele Abraham, Molgat was born in Ste.
3.
Gildas Molgat was a Liberal-Progressive, and a supporter of Premier Douglas Lloyd Campbell.
4.
The Liberal-Progressives lost the election of 1958, though Gildas Molgat was easily re-elected over his Progressive Conservative opponent.
5.
Gildas Molgat was re-elected in 1959, again by a significant margin.
6.
When Campbell resigned as Liberal leader in 1961, Gildas Molgat was selected to replace him.
7.
Gildas Molgat was the first francophone party leader in Manitoba since 1919, and the first ever in the province's Liberal Party.
8.
Gildas Molgat never faced any serious competition in his own riding.
9.
Gildas Molgat resigned as party leader soon thereafter, and was replaced by Robert Bend.
10.
Gildas Molgat's campaign fared poorly, and the party was reduced to five members in the general election of 1969.
11.
Gildas Molgat resigned his seat on October 7,1970, having been appointed on the recommendation of Pierre Trudeau to the Canadian Senate.
12.
Gildas Molgat served as president of the Liberal Party of Canada from 1973 until 1976.
13.
Gildas Molgat was elected deputy speaker in 1983 and was re-elected to the position in 1988.
14.
One year later, when Romeo LeBlanc was appointed Governor General of Canada, Gildas Molgat replaced him as Speaker of the Senate of Canada.
15.
Gildas Molgat served as president of the Liberal Party of Canada.
16.
Gildas Molgat died in hospital on February 28,2001, following a stroke.