Max Saltsman
Max Saltsman | |
|---|---|
Official 1974 portrait | |
| Member of Parliament for Waterloo South (Waterloo; 1968–1974) (Waterloo—Cambridge; 1974–1979) | |
| In office 9 November 1964 – 21 May 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Chaplin |
| Succeeded by | Riding abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Samuel Mayer Saltsman 29 May 1921 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 28 November 1985 (aged 64) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Party | New Democratic Party |
| Spouse |
Dorothy Gellman (m. 1947) |
| Profession |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Branch/service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1945 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Samuel Mayer "Max" Saltsman (29 May 1921 – 28 November 1985) was a Canadian businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Waterloo South (1964–1968), Waterloo (1968–1974), and Waterloo—Cambridge (1974–1979) with the New Democratic Party (NDP).[1]
Early life and education
Saltsman was born on 29 May 1921 in Toronto to Samuel and Sara (née Krier) Saltsman, gaining the nickname “Max” in childhood.[2] He attended schools in the Spadina area and left Central Technical School at age 14 to work and support his family.[3] He earned high-school credits through part-time studies after work.[4]
Saltsman did not complete a university degree, but took correspondence courses while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and continued his education sporadically during his years in Parliament.[4] During World War II, he served in France, the Netherlands, and Germany with the RCAF.[5] In 1947, he married Dorothy Gellman.[6] He was president of Galt Dry Cleaning Services and Eastern Coin Operated Enterprise.[6][2]
Career in politics
Saltsman was first elected to the House of Commons in a 1964 by‑election following the death of MP Gordon Chaplin, and was re‑elected in the general elections of 1965, 1968, 1972, and 1974.[7] He served as the New Democratic Party critic for Finance and National Revenue in 1976–1977.[7] He drafted private member's bill C‑249, “An Act Respecting a Proposed Association Between Canada and the Caribbean Turks and Caicos Islands,” proposing an association between Canada and the islands; the bill did not proceed to a vote.[8]
Before entering federal office, Saltsman was an alderman in Galt, Ontario, from 1961 to 1964.[8] In 1982, Bill Davis, the Premier of Ontario, appointed Saltsman to the province's Inflation Restraint Board.[9] He planned to return to municipal politics as a councillor‑at‑large for Cambridge in 1985, but withdrew at a news conference on 21 October after announcing a diagnosis of terminal liver cancer.[10]
Saltsman died at Toronto's Wellesley Hospital on 28 November 1985, two weeks after the Cambridge municipal election.[11] The Max Saltsman fonds are held at Library and Archives Canada.[12]
Electoral record
| 1965 Canadian federal election: Waterloo South | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Max Saltsman | 13,337 | 46.15 | +1.90 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Jim Chaplin | 9,678 | 33.49 | -2.43 | ||||
| Liberal | Reid Menary | 5,886 | 20.37 | +0.54 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 28,901 | 100.0 | ||||||
| New Democratic hold | Swing | +2.17 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Waterloo South, Ontario (1867-1968)". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved 7 September 2015. | ||||||||
| Canadian federal by-election, November 9, 1964: Waterloo South Death of Gordon Chaplin | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| New Democratic | Max Saltsman | 12,417 | 44.25 | +17.85 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Jim Chaplin | 10,078 | 35.92 | -5.01 | ||||
| Liberal | Rod Stewart | 5,563 | 19.83 | -11.52 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 28,058 | 100.0 | ||||||
| New Democratic gain from Progressive Conservative | Swing | +11.43 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Waterloo South, Ontario (1867-1968)". History of Federal Ridings Since 1867. Library of Parliament. Retrieved 6 September 2015. | ||||||||
References
- ^ "Max Saltsman – Parliamentary Profile". Library of Parliament. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b Downey, Donn (29 November 1985). "Max Saltsman: NDP financial critic embraced odd causes, leapt political fences". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A23.
- ^ Scotton, Lindsay (26 October 1985). "Max Saltsman still outspoken: Dying politician is rummaging in memories of his long career". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A10.
- ^ a b Goar, Carol (29 October 1985). "'Uncalculated honest' was Max Saltsman's trademark". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A14.
- ^ "Saltsman, Max (Biography)". Parliament of Canada. Ottawa: Parliament of Canada. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ a b Johnson, J. K. (1968). The Canadian Directory of Parliament 1867–1967. Public Archives of Canada.
- ^ a b "Max Saltsman – Parliamentary profile". Library of Parliament. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Annex Turks and Caicos? Private member's bill proposed". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal. 16 February 1974. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
- ^ van Rijn, Nicolaas (29 November 1985). "Ex‑MP Max Saltsman, 64, earned name as NDP maverick". The Toronto Star. Toronto. p. A5.
- ^ Staff/Canadian Press (23 October 1985). "Ex‑MP Saltsman says death is near". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A2.
- ^ Downey, Donn (29 November 1985). "Max Saltsman: NDP financial critic embraced odd causes, leapt political fences". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A23.
- ^ "Max Saltsman fonds (R10657)". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 27 August 2025.