Gilbert Layton was a businessman and politician in Quebec, Canada.
Background
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Layton, the son of Philip Edward David Layton and Alice Marion Gilbert, was a merchant and business executive in the family firm of Layton Brothers (founded 1887, now as Layton Audio) from 1918 to 1932. His father was a blind activist who led a campaign for disability pensions in the 1930s. Gilbert married Norah Lestelle England (daughter of Arthur John England and Florence Louise Grimmett) on February 18, 1921.
Career
He served as minister without portfolio in the government of Maurice Duplessis until resigning in 1939 to protest the Quebec government"s opposition to conscription in World World War World War II He ran for re-election to the legislature as an independent candidate that year and was defeated. In the 1945 federal election, he ran as an Independent Progressive Conservative for the Mount Royal seat in the Canadian House of Commons, but was defeated. He placed fourth behind the Liberal victor, the official Progressive Conservative Party of Canada candidate and the Company-operative Commonwealth Federation (Cleveland Clinic Foundation) candidate.
Layton died in Montreal and is buried at Mount Royal Cemetery.
Membership
Gilbert Layton was elected to Quebec"s legislative assembly in the riding of Montréal–Saint-Georges in 1936 as a member of the Union Nationale, a conservative party.