User:Eric James



Eric Joseph James, PC, MP, is a Canadian politician. He is currently the Minister of Labour and Industry and Minister of Public Workds and Government Operations.

Early Life
Eric James was born January 17th, 1938 in Hamilton Ontario. He is the only son of Patrick James and JoAnnes James (Legault). Eric was not born into a well-ff family. His father was a World World One vet who lost his hearing during the war and struggled to work as a mechanic at the family's gas station. His mother never had an education further then grade school but helped out around the house and the gas station when ever she could. At an early age Eric developed business skills while helping his father run the gas station. Often times his father could not work with bankers because of his deafness so Eric would stand in and act as a representative of his father.

The most tramic event in Eric's life was the death of his mother in 1941 when he was only 13 years old. She had caught a bad cold during the winter and never recovered. Eric's father sold the gas station and moved to Toronto to live with his sister. The money that was earned in the sale of the gas station Eric's father put into a bank account for Eric's education.

Early Career
In 1956 at the age of 18 Eric enrolled at the University of Ottawa to study Economics. It was while he was studying earnestly at the University in the nation's capitol that Eric began an interest in politics. During his study of economics Eric could not understand why Governments did not enact strong fiscal policies into their agenda's, it was this questioning and probing that lead him to the Liberal Party.

He became a card carrying member in 1958. Although Eric was not more active in politics other than attending the odd Liberal meeting and going to the House of Commons for big events, Eric continued his studies.

In 1960 Eric graduated from the University of Ottawa but choose to continue in his studies of Law. By now the money that was saved for Eric to study was almost gone so he got a part-time job working for a local Ottawa MP. After graduating from the University as a law student Eric did not complete his bar exam, but decided to run for Federal politics.

He worked under federal MP for Essex East for four years to learn the ropes and then took the riding from him in the 1967 Liberal bid. Eric won the riding of Essex East in the 1968 election and made his way to Ottawa as an elected Member of Parliament.

Political Career
When Eric entered Ottawa he was all set to go. He had worked under the previous Member of Parliament for Essex East for many years in Ottawa and knew Parliament Hill like the back of his hand. His strong oration skills and his dedication to long hours at work and study earned Eric a cabinet position as Minister of Labour and Industry and Minister of Public Works and Government Operations.