George Tustin

Who was George Tustin?

George James Tustin was a Progressive Conservative party, National Government and Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Todmorden, Ontario and became a merchant and theatre owner by career.

Tustin was a member of the Napanee, Ontario municipal council for a decade, serving as Mayor in 1934 and 1935.

He was first elected to Parliament at the Prince Edward—Lennox riding in the 1935 general election as a candidate with Canada's original Conservative party, then re-elected in 1940 under the National Government banner. After his party's identity changed to the Progressive Conservatives, Tustin was re-elected to Parliament in 1949 and 1953.

He lost the Prince Edward—Lennox Progressive Conservative nomination to Clarence Milligan in the buildup to the 1957 federal election. Tustin was a personal friend and political ally of Progressive Conservative leader John Diefenbaker, and it was suggested at the time that his loss was a setback for Diefenbaker's leadership.

Tustin died aged 78 at Napanee, Ontario following a lengthy illness.