Robert Layton

Robert Edward John "Bob" Layton, PC (December 25, 1925 – May 9, 2002) was a Canadian politician.

Robert Layton was born in Montreal, the son of Norah Lestelle (née England) and former Quebec cabinet minister Gilbert Layton. He graduated from McGill University in 1947. He spent much of his professional career running an engineering consulting business in Montreal, Quebec.

He became a political activist for the Liberal Party of Canada, running unsuccessfully in 1972 for the party's nomination for a seat in the Canadian House of Commons for the riding of Vaudreuil.

In the 1980s, he joined the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, and was elected to the Federal Parliament in the 1984 election from the Quebec riding of Lachine, covering suburban communities on the west end of the island of Montreal. He was elected in the general elections of 1984 and 1988, and served as Minister of State for Mines in the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from 1984 to 1986, after which he served as National Caucus Chairman until 1993 when he decided to retire from politics after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Layton married Doris Elizabeth Steeves, a grand-niece of Father of Confederation William Steeves.

Robert Layton had four children (three sons and a daughter) as well as six grandchildren. His eldest son, Jack Layton, became a leader of the federal New Democratic Party and Leader of the Official Opposition in the House of Commons. His other sons are Rob Layton Jr. and Dave Layton. He is the grandfather of Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton.

Layton died in Montreal and is buried at the Layton family plot in Hudson, Quebec. Some of his son Jack's ashes were scattered at the family plot.