Stockwell Day, Canadian businessman and politician, 15th Canadian Minister of International Trade
Stockwell Burt Day Jr. (born August 16, 1950) is a Canadian former politician who led the Canadian Alliance from 2000 to 2001, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
A provincial cabinet minister from Alberta, Day served as minister of labour, minister of social services, and treasurer under Premier Ralph Klein. He successfully ran for leader of the newly formed Canadian Alliance against former Reform Party leader Preston Manning, winning that position on July 8, 2000. Following his election as leader, Day won the by-election to become the Member of Parliament for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia. In the 2000 federal election, the Alliance under Day only made modest gains, increasing their seat count from 58 to 66. A breakthrough in the East did not happen, and the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Jean Chrétien won a third consecutive majority government.
After the election, Day's leadership of the party was met with criticism, with a caucus revolt taking place. Following the election, Day lost his role as leader but continued to serve as an MP. He then held several cabinet portfolios under Prime Minister Stephen Harper and was widely seen as a prominent voice for social conservatives within the Conservative Party. On March 12, 2011, Day announced that he would not be seeking re-election in the 2011 federal election.