Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Robert Andras | |
Office: | President of the Treasury Board |
Primeminister: | Pierre Trudeau |
Term Start: | September 14, 1976 |
Term End: | November 23, 1978 |
Predecessor: | Jean Chrétien |
Successor: | Judd Buchanan |
Office1: | Minister of Manpower and Immigration |
Primeminister1: | Pierre Trudeau |
Term Start1: | November 27, 1972 |
Term End1: | September 13, 1976 |
Predecessor1: | Bryce Mackasey |
Successor1: | Bud Cullen |
Office2: | Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs |
Primeminister2: | Pierre Trudeau |
Term Start2: | January 28, 1972 |
Term End2: | November 26, 1972 |
Predecessor2: | Ron Basford |
Successor2: | Herb Gray |
Office3: | Minister without portfolio |
Primeminister3: | Pierre Trudeau |
Term Start3: | July 6, 1968 |
Term End3: | June 29, 1971 |
Riding4: | Thunder Bay—Superior North |
Parliament4: | Canadian |
Term Start4: | May 22, 1979 |
Term End4: | February 17, 1980 |
Predecessor4: | Riding created |
Successor4: | Jack Masters |
Riding5: | Port Arthur |
Parliament5: | Canadian |
Term Start5: | November 8, 1965 |
Term End5: | May 21, 1979 |
Predecessor5: | Douglas M. Fisher |
Successor5: | Riding dissolved |
Birth Name: | Robert Knight Andras |
Birth Date: | 21 February 1921 |
Birth Place: | Lachine, Quebec, Canada |
Death Place: | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
Party: | Liberal |
Children: | 2 |
Education: | Wesley College |
Blank1: | Awards |
Allegiance: | Canada |
Branch: | Canadian Army |
Rank: | Major |
Unit: | Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada |
Battles: | World War II |
Robert Knight "Bob"Andras (February 21, 1921 -November 17, 1982) [1] was a Canadian politician and businessman who served in multiple cabinet posts under Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
He was born February 21, 1921, in Lachine, Quebec. Andras moved to Port Arthur, Ontario in 1958 as the general manager of Gibson Motors Ltd., a car dealership he assumed ownership of in 1960.
Andras first ran for Parliament in 1965, contesting C. D. Howe’s old riding of Port Arthur, and won. He first entered government as a Minister without Portfolio from 1968 to 1971. His subsequent appointments include Minister of State for Urban Affairs from 1971 to 1972, Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs in 1972, Minister of Manpower and Immigration from 1972 to 1976, President of the Treasury Board from 1976 to 1978, and Minister of State for Economic Development from 1978 to 1979.
As Minister without Portfolio from 1968 to 1971, Andras started collaborating with the Minister of Northern Affairs, Jean Chrétien, to shape future Indian policy. During the summer of 1968, he attended consultation meetings with Aboriginal representatives. Aboriginal people felt that Andras understood their issues and would make a difference in Indian policy compared to previous bureaucratic rhetoric. However, Andras did not have the opportunity to push the agenda forward.[2]
Andras retired from politics in 1979 and re-entered the business world. He died of cancer on November 17, 1982, at his home in Vancouver.