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How did W.L. Mackenzie King serve in Wilfrid Laurier’s government?

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W.L. Mackenzie King served in the government of Sir Wilfrid Laurier in two distinct capacities:

  • Deputy Minister of Labour: In 1900, King began his career in the civil service as the deputy minister of the newly formed department of labour in Ottawa. In this role, he edited the Labour Gazette and gained recognition for his skill in conciliating industrial disputes, which brought him to the attention of Prime Minister Laurier.1
  • Minister of Labour: After resigning from the civil service to run for Parliament, King was elected in 1908. He subsequently joined the Laurier government in 1909, serving as Canada's first full-time minister of labour.1

King held this ministerial position until he lost his seat in the 1911 election, which also marked the defeat of the Laurier government.1