Robert Gordon Robertson
Encyclopedia
Robert Gordon Robertson, PC
, CC
, FRSC (born May 19, 1917) was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
from November 15, 1953 to July 12, 1963 who, having been sworn in at the age of 36, remains the youngest person to ever hold the office. http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:B2P0zVmbEuEJ:www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/related/province/lieutgov.asp%3Flang%3DE%26prov%3D6+%22Hugh+Andrew+Young%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us He went on to become Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, the top position in the Canadian public service.
Born in Davidson, Saskatchewan
, Robertson was educated at University of Saskatchewan
, University of Oxford
(where he was a Rhodes Scholar) and University of Toronto
. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1941. From 1945 to 1948 he worked in the Prime Minister's Office
of William Lyon Mackenzie King
, and from 1948 to 1953 he was in the Privy Council Office
under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
. In 1953 he was appointed Deputy Minister of the newly formed Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources. By virtue of that position he was also Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. He remained in this combination of positions until 1963, when incoming Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
appointed him Clerk of the Privy Council
and Secretary to the Cabinet, the top position in the Canadian public service. He held this position under Pearson and then under Pierre Elliott Trudeau until 1975. In that year, Trudeau appointed him Secretary to the Cabinet for Federal-Provincial Relations, to support Trudeau in his constitutional reform agenda. He remained in that position for most of the government of Joe Clark
, retiring in December 1979.
In 1970, he won the Vanier Medal of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
In 1976 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
.
Robertson served as Chancellor of Carleton University
in Ottawa from 1980 to 1990.
In 2000, Robertson published "Memoirs of a Very Civil Servant", which recounted his experiences as a senior civil servant under five Canadian Prime Ministers.
As of 2010, Robertson is the oldest living former head of a Canadian Province/Territory.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, FRSC (born May 19, 1917) was Commissioner of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
from November 15, 1953 to July 12, 1963 who, having been sworn in at the age of 36, remains the youngest person to ever hold the office. http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:B2P0zVmbEuEJ:www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/related/province/lieutgov.asp%3Flang%3DE%26prov%3D6+%22Hugh+Andrew+Young%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us He went on to become Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet, the top position in the Canadian public service.
Born in Davidson, Saskatchewan
Davidson, Saskatchewan
Davidson is a town in south central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 104 km southeast of Saskatoon beside provincial highway 11. It is located almost exactly halfway between Saskatoon and Regina and was a popular stopping-off point for travellers before Hwy...
, Robertson was educated at University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(where he was a Rhodes Scholar) and University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He joined the Department of External Affairs in 1941. From 1945 to 1948 he worked in the Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister's Office
The Prime Minister's Office is a small department which provides advice to a Prime Minister in some countries:* Office of the Prime Minister * Office of the Prime Minister * British Prime Minister's Office...
of William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King
William Lyon Mackenzie King, PC, OM, CMG was the dominant Canadian political leader from the 1920s through the 1940s. He served as the tenth Prime Minister of Canada from December 29, 1921 to June 28, 1926; from September 25, 1926 to August 7, 1930; and from October 23, 1935 to November 15, 1948...
, and from 1948 to 1953 he was in the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office may refer to:*Privy Council Office *Privy Council Office...
under Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent
Louis St. Laurent
Louis Stephen St. Laurent, PC, CC, QC , was the 12th Prime Minister of Canada from 15 November 1948, to 21 June 1957....
. In 1953 he was appointed Deputy Minister of the newly formed Department of Northern Affairs and National Resources. By virtue of that position he was also Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. He remained in this combination of positions until 1963, when incoming Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
appointed him Clerk of the Privy Council
Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada)
The Clerk of the Privy Council is the senior civil servant in the Canadian government. The Title and Office is in fact "Clerk of the Privy Council and the Secretary to the Cabinet"...
and Secretary to the Cabinet, the top position in the Canadian public service. He held this position under Pearson and then under Pierre Elliott Trudeau until 1975. In that year, Trudeau appointed him Secretary to the Cabinet for Federal-Provincial Relations, to support Trudeau in his constitutional reform agenda. He remained in that position for most of the government of Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
, retiring in December 1979.
In 1970, he won the Vanier Medal of the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
In 1976 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Robertson served as Chancellor of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa from 1980 to 1990.
In 2000, Robertson published "Memoirs of a Very Civil Servant", which recounted his experiences as a senior civil servant under five Canadian Prime Ministers.
As of 2010, Robertson is the oldest living former head of a Canadian Province/Territory.