Born in Sillery, Quebec, he was seriously wounded in World War I. He served in the Canadian House of Commons 1917–55. In W.L. Mackenzie King's government he served as minister for pensions and national health (1935–39) and postmaster general (1939–40). As minister for national defense for air (1940–44), he promoted the interests of Canadian air forces serving under British command and created Canadian squadrons in Europe.
