Rear-Admiral Fred J. Mifflin, PC CD (February 6, 1938 – October 5, 2013) was a rear admiral in the Canadian Forces and a politician.

Fred J. Mifflin
Member of Parliament for Bonavista-Trinity-Conception
In office
1988–2000
Preceded byMorrissey Johnson
Succeeded byBrian Tobin
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
In office
1996–1997
Preceded byBrian Tobin
Succeeded byDavid Anderson
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
1997–1999
Preceded byDoug Young
Succeeded byGeorge Baker
Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
In office
1997–1999
Preceded byLawrence MacAulay
Succeeded byGeorge Baker
Personal details
Born(1938-02-06)February 6, 1938
Bonavista, Newfoundland
DiedOctober 5, 2013(2013-10-05) (aged 75)
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal Party of Canada
SpouseGwenneth Mifflin
Children3
ResidenceOttawa
Alma materRoyal Naval College of Canada
Canadian Forces Staff College
United States Naval War College
National Defence College
Occupationpolitician
Professionnaval officer

Mifflin was born in Bonavista, Newfoundland, in 1938.

edit

Mifflin joined the RCN in 1954 after serving as a Sea Cadet and rose through the ranks as an officer:

  • Executive officer HMCS Saguenay 1968–1969
  • Command secretary, Maritime Command 1969–1970
  • Commanding officer HMCS Skeena 1970–1972
  • Captain, National Defence Headquarters Evaluation Branch 1973–1976
  • Commander, First Canadian Destroyer Squadron 1976–1978
  • Director of Maritime Requirements 1978–1979
  • Director, National Defence Headquarters Secretariat 1979–1981
  • Chief of staff, Maritime Command Headquarters, Plans and Ops 1981–1984
  • Chief of staff, Maritime Command Headquarters, Personnel 1984–1985
  • Rear admiral and deputy commander, Maritime Command 1985–1987

Political career

edit

After retiring from 32 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy, Mifflin entered politics and was elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1988 election. Mifflin became the Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) for the Newfoundland riding of Bonavista-Trinity-Conception.

After the Liberals came to power under the leadership of Jean Chrétien in the 1993 election, Mifflin was appointed parliamentary secretary to the ministers of national defence and veterans affairs.

In 1996, he was appointed to the Canadian Cabinet as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. In a 1997 cabinet shuffle, he was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Mifflin decided that he wasn't going to run in the next general election, and was dropped from Cabinet in August 1999. He did not run for re-election in the 2000 election.

He supported Stéphane Dion for the leadership of the Liberal Party.[1] Mifflin died on October 5, 2013, with his wife at his side.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Liberal Party of Canada". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Former Liberal cabinet minister and rear admiral Fred Mifflin dies at age 75". The Globe and Mail. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
edit
26th Ministry – Cabinet of Jean Chrétien
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Doug Young Minister of Veterans Affairs
1997–1999
George Baker
Brian Tobin Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
1996–1997
David Anderson