Duncan Edmonds

Who is Duncan Edmonds?

Duncan Edmonds is a Canadian businessman, politician, consultant, lobbyist, university professor, and writer. In 1969, he unsuccessfully ran for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party.

Edmonds was born in Toronto, Ontario, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1959. He began doctorate studies at the London School of Economics. He left his graduate studies, never to return, to take a job in Ottawa as an executive assistant with the office of Liberal Opposition Leader Lester Pearson, the future Prime Minister. He next worked as a professor of political studies at Carleton University, and became a Dean of Residence at Carleton. He played a major role in organizing the Company of Young Canadians in 1965. He also worked for CUSO, and for Crossroads Africa in the 1960s.From 1963-66 he was Executive Assistant to Paul Martin Sr. in the Department of External Affairs and he chaired Paul Martin Sr.'s unsuccessful leadership campaign in 1968.

Although Edmonds had no legislative experience, he was the primary opposition to Robert Bend at the 1969 Liberal convention. Bend's supporters came primarily from the party establishment; Edmonds was supported primarily by its youth wing. Despite a flashy entrance, Edmonds received only 483 votes against 877 for Bend. Some youth delegates were seen burning their membership cards after Bend's victory was announced. Edmonds ran in the Winnipeg-area riding of Charleswood in the 1969 provincial election, but lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Arthur Moug by over a thousand votes.