Roger Teillet

Jean-Baptiste Roger Joseph Camille Teillet (21 August 1912 – 1 May 2002) was a Canadian politician, becoming the first self-identifying Métis member of the Canadian Cabinet in 1963.

Personal life

Early life Jean-Baptiste Roger Joseph Camille Teillet was born on River Road in St. Vital, Manitoba, Born into one of Manitoba's most well-known Métis families, Roger Teillet was a direct descendant of Marie-Anne Gaboury and Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière, who were the first white settlers in Canada's west and were also the grandparents of Louis Riel. Roger was the grandson of Joseph Riel, Louis Riel's younger brother.

In January 1945, prisoners from camps all over Germany were herded from the camps and forced to walk the length and breadth of Germany, in an effort to evade the encroaching Allied armies. On 5 May 1945, Teillet and the others were turned over to the British Army not far from Bremen. Their guards surrendered and the prisoners were airlifted to Brussels.

Upon his return to Canada, Teillet went into the insurance business in Winnipeg.

Manitoba abandoned its multi-member constituencies in 1956, and Teillet was re-elected for the now single-member seat of St. Boniface in the 1958 provincial election. The Liberal-Progressives were defeated in this election, and Roger did not seek re-election in 1959.

Teillet ran for a seat in the House of Commons in the federal election of 1962, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative Laurier Regnier by 2,601 votes in the federal riding of St. Boniface. He defeated Regnier again in the 1963 election, when the Liberals won a minority government under Lester B. Pearson.

On 22 April 1963, Teillet was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs by Prime Minister Pearson. At this point, Teillet became the first self-identifying Métis member of Cabinet.

As Minister of Veterans Affairs, Teillet was involved in some controversial projects. The Royal Canadian Legion was vehemently opposed to any new flag for Canada and Teillet was required to be a mediary. He sat on the New Flag Committee as an ex officio member. He was also involved in the revamping of Canada's veterans' hospitals. In both 1964 and 1966, he represented Canada at war commemorative ceremonies at war cemeteries in Europe. At this time, he toured Canada's war graves. He was dismayed at the condition of the monument at Vimy Ridge. He brought his concern forward but work did not begin on the monument until 1984. Still, it was through Roger's effort that the monument was eventually restored.

Teillet saw to it that Vimy Ridge was properly recognized at Vimy Park in Winnipeg, and established a memorial in Halifax dedicated to Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve members who died in the World War II. As a Métis, Teillet brought forward the concerns of the Métis in parliament, particularly as they involved the cause that Louis Riel had died for.

Teillet was re-elected over Progressive Conservative candidate Harry DeLeeuw in 1965. He was the only Liberal MP in the Prairies. In 1968, he unexpectedly lost the Liberal nomination for St. Boniface to Joseph-Philippe Guay. Choosing not to run in another riding, Teillet formally resigned from Cabinet on July 5, 1968.

Teillet was then appointed to head the Canada Pension Commission by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. While still in Cabinet, Teillet had been working with this Commission with a view to reforming veterans' pensions. He served on this Commission until his retirement in 1980.

Electoral history