Bill McKnight


William Hunter McKnight was a Canadian politician who served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1993, and also served as the Treaty Commissioner for the Province of Saskatchewan.

Biography

Born in Wartime, Saskatchewan, he served as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Minister of National Defence during the first Gulf War, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources and Minister of Labour in the Progressive Conservative government of Brian Mulroney. He was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on September 17, 1984. He was the Honorary Chief of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. A parcel of commercial land in Saskatoon was named after McKnight by the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation in recognition of his role in creating federal policy for Land Claims Settlements. It is known as the McKnight Commercial Centre. McKnight died in Saskatoon on October 4, 2019 at the age of 79.

Airbus affair

McKnight testified on the first day of the Airbus Affair inquiry on 30 March 2009.

Honours

He was a Member of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.