Robert Laxer
Encyclopedia
Robert M. Laxer was a Canadian
psychologist, professor, author, and political activist.
Laxer was born in Montreal
, Quebec
in 1915 and graduated from McGill University
with a B.A. in 1936 and an M.A. in 1939. Laxer joined the Communist Party of Canada
during the Great Depression
. He worked as a freelance journalist until 1941 when he joined the Canadian Army and served during World War II
. Upon returning to Canada in 1947, he became a paid organizer for the Communist Party's successor, the Labour-Progressive Party
. Following the Twentieth Party Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
, the accusations by Nikita Khrushchev
of crimes by Joseph Stalin
, and the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, Laxer joined many other disillusioned Communists in resigning from the party.
He returned to school and ultimately obtained a doctorate
in clinical and learning psychology from the University of Toronto
. From 1960 to 1964, he was a lecturer in the University of Toronto's department of psychology and a clinical psychologist at Toronto General Hospital
. He then taught at York University
, and later became an associate professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
. He became a full professor in 1968.
In 1969, he joined his son, James Laxer
, and Mel Watkins
to form the Waffle
, a socialist group within the New Democratic Party
. Through the 1970s, he wrote numerous articles and books advocating Canadian economic independence from the United States
and, in particular, Canadian ownership of the oil industry. He was appointed by Pierre Trudeau
to the board of directors of Petro-Canada
which had been created as a state-owned crown corporation, in part, due to Laxer's arguments.
In the 1980s, Laxer was active in the Council of Canadians, the peace movement, and as an opponent of the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
psychologist, professor, author, and political activist.
Laxer was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1915 and graduated from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
with a B.A. in 1936 and an M.A. in 1939. Laxer joined the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He worked as a freelance journalist until 1941 when he joined the Canadian Army and served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon returning to Canada in 1947, he became a paid organizer for the Communist Party's successor, the Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
. Following the Twentieth Party Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
, the accusations by Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
of crimes by Joseph Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
, and the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, Laxer joined many other disillusioned Communists in resigning from the party.
He returned to school and ultimately obtained a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in clinical and learning psychology from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. From 1960 to 1964, he was a lecturer in the University of Toronto's department of psychology and a clinical psychologist at Toronto General Hospital
Toronto General Hospital
The Toronto General Hospital , is a part of the University Health Network, and a major teaching hospital in downtown Toronto, Ontario. It is located in the Discovery District, directly north of the Hospital for Sick Children, across Gerrard Street West, and east of Princess Margaret Hospital and...
. He then taught at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, and later became an associate professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto is a teachers' college in Toronto, Ontario.-History:OISE/UT traces its origins to the founding of the Provincial Normal School in 1847...
. He became a full professor in 1968.
In 1969, he joined his son, James Laxer
James Laxer
James Laxer is a Canadian political economist, professor and author.In 1969, Laxer, along with his father Robert Laxer and Mel Watkins, founded the Waffle, a radical left wing group influenced by the New Left, the anti-Vietnam War movement and Canadian economic nationalism, that tried to win...
, and Mel Watkins
Mel Watkins
Mel Watkins is a Canadian political economist and activist. He is professor emeritus of economics and political science at the University of Toronto...
to form the Waffle
The Waffle
The Waffle was a radical wing of Canada's New Democratic Party in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It later transformed into an independent political party, with little electoral success before it permanently disbanded in the mid-1970s...
, a socialist group within the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
. Through the 1970s, he wrote numerous articles and books advocating Canadian economic independence from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and, in particular, Canadian ownership of the oil industry. He was appointed by Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
to the board of directors of Petro-Canada
Petro-Canada
Petro-Canada was a crown corporation of Canada in the field of oil and natural gas. It was headquartered in the Petro-Canada Centre in Calgary, Alberta. In August, 2009, Petro-Canada merged with Suncor Energy, a deal in which Suncor investors received approximately 60 per cent ownership of the...
which had been created as a state-owned crown corporation, in part, due to Laxer's arguments.
In the 1980s, Laxer was active in the Council of Canadians, the peace movement, and as an opponent of the Canada-US Free Trade Agreement.