Erik Nielsen

Early Life and Military Service

Erik Hersholt Nielsen was born on February 24, 1924, in Regina, Saskatchewan, the eldest of three boys. His father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and his mother, Mabel Elizabeth Davies, was an immigrant from Wales. The family moved frequently due to his father's postings, living mainly in Alberta and in Fort Norman in the Northwest Territories. Nielsen completed his high school education in Edmonton in 1942 and promptly joined the Royal Canadian Air Force that same year. He trained as a pilot in Alberta and was posted to No. 101 Squadron RAF during the Second World War, where he flew 33 combat missions. His courage and devotion to duty were recognized with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross, and he attained the rank of flight lieutenant. After the war, he rejoined the RCAF from 1946 to 1951 as a legal officer while simultaneously earning his law degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Legal Career and Entry into Politics

After completing his legal studies, Nielsen moved north and established a private law practice in Whitehorse, Yukon, in 1952. His legal career in the territory laid the groundwork for his political ambitions. He first sought federal office in the 1957 election, initially losing the Yukon seat. However, the result was successfully contested, and Nielsen won the subsequent byelection later that same year, beginning his uninterrupted 30-year tenure as the Progressive Conservative MP for Yukon. During the government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, Nielsen was a backbench MP, but he began to build a reputation for his detailed knowledge of parliamentary procedure and his fierce loyalty to the party. In 1978, as the Yukon prepared for its first partisan territorial elections, Nielsen ran for the leadership of the newly formed Yukon Progressive Conservative Party but was narrowly defeated by Hilda Watson by a single vote.

Parliamentary Career and Opposition Tactics

Nielsen's political prominence grew significantly during the Conservative Party's long period in opposition throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He joined the party's shadow cabinet in 1964, where his aggressive cross-examination of Liberal ministers earned him the nickname 'Velcro lips' for his tight-lipped and secretive demeanour under pressure. When the PCs won the 1979 election, Prime Minister Joe Clark appointed Nielsen as Minister of Public Works, though this minority government lasted less than a year. Following the party's defeat in 1980, Nielsen served as Opposition House Leader from 1981 to 1983. He engineered the Bell Ringing Affair to protest the Liberal government's omnibus energy bill, causing the business of the House of Commons to halt for three weeks. After Joe Clark resigned as party leader in 1983, Nielsen served as the interim Leader of the Opposition from February 2 to June 11, 1983, until Brian Mulroney was elected as the new PC leader and won a seat in Parliament.

Senior Cabinet Roles and Controversies

When Brian Mulroney led the Progressive Conservatives to a massive majority victory in the 1984 election, Nielsen was appointed to several of the most senior positions in the new government. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986 and concurrently as President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada from 1984 to 1985, acting as the government's effective House Leader. In 1985, he was also given the portfolio of Minister of National Defence. His tenacious and combative style, however, which had been an asset in opposition, became a liability in government. Critics accused him of stonewalling and secrecy, which was seen to prolong political scandals. This became particularly evident during the Sinclair Stevens conflict-of-interest scandal in 1986, when Nielsen faced relentless opposition questioning in Mulroney's absence. Shortly after Mulroney's return in June 1986, he demanded the resignations of both Stevens and Nielsen from the cabinet. Around the same time, allegations surfaced in the press that Nielsen had been involved in illegal wiretapping of Liberal MPs in the 1960s. While Nielsen vehemently denied the accusations, he ultimately issued a public apology at Mulroney's insistence.

• Minister of Public Works in the Joe Clark government (1979 to 1980).
• Deputy Prime Minister under Brian Mulroney (1984 to 1986).
• President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (1984 to 1985).
• Minister of National Defence (1985 to 1986).
• Central figure in the Sinclair Stevens conflict-of-interest scandal (1986).
• Subject of allegations regarding illegal wiretapping of Liberal MPs in the 1960s.
• Forced resignation from cabinet in June 1986.

Later Career and Death

Nielsen resigned his seat in Parliament in January 1987 and was appointed chairman of the National Transportation Agency, a position he held until 1992. His resignation from politics was widely linked to the recent scandals, though associates maintained he had always planned to retire before the next election. The ensuing byelection for his Yukon seat was won by New Democrat Audrey McLaughlin, who would later become the first woman to lead a major federal party in Canada. After leaving the public service in 1992, Nielsen moved into the private sector, becoming president of Solar Engineering, Hawaii Inc. and Solar Electric Engineering Distributors Canada, where he became a noted advocate for electric vehicles. He published a candid memoir titled The House Is Not a Home in 1989, which discussed his political career and personal life with notable directness. Erik Nielsen died from a massive heart attack at his home in Kelowna, British Columbia, on September 4, 2008, at the age of 84. On December 15 of that year, the Government of Yukon renamed the territory's main airport in Whitehorse the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport in his memory.

• Resigned as MP for Yukon in January 1987.
• Appointed Chairman of the National Transportation Agency (1987 to 1992).
• Became President of Solar Engineering, Hawaii Inc. and Solar Electric Engineering Distributors Canada (1992 onward).
• Published memoir The House Is Not a Home in 1989.
• Died in Kelowna, British Columbia, on September 4, 2008.
• Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport renamed in his honour on December 15, 2008.

Personal Life and Family

Erik Nielsen was the elder brother of the famed actor and comedian Leslie Nielsen. Their relationship was the subject of good-natured humour, including in the HBO mockumentary The Canadian Conspiracy, which jokingly alleged a plot involving Canadians in the entertainment industry. He was also a nephew of the actor and humanitarian Jean Hersholt. Nielsen's personal life, as detailed in his memoir, included a decade-long extramarital affair with his parliamentary office secretary, which began when she was 19 and resulted in the birth of a son. He acknowledged that this contributed to the suicide of his first wife. Despite these personal challenges, he remained close to his family, and his brother Leslie publicly praised his dedication to public service and the North after his death.

Legacy and Honours

Erik Nielsen's political legacy is defined by his lengthy service to the Yukon and his fierce parliamentary style. He was the territory's longest-serving MP, winning 11 consecutive elections. Former Yukon premier Pat Duncan, who worked in his Ottawa office, emphasized that Nielsen always put the Yukon first, crediting him with helping the territory gain greater self-government in the late 1970s and securing increased federal funding in the 1980s. His combative tactics in the House of Commons left a lasting impression on parliamentary procedure. The renaming of the Whitehorse airport is a permanent, public tribute to his contributions to the North. His military service was also distinguished, marked by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions as an RCAF pilot during the Second World War.

• Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) awarded for service in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II.
• Appointed to the Queen's Privy Council for Canada (PC) upon entering cabinet.
• Designated Queen's Counsel (QC) in recognition of his legal career.
• Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport named in his memory, December 15, 2008.
• Featured alongside his brother in the HBO mockumentary The Canadian Conspiracy (1986).
• Author of the memoir The House Is Not a Home (1989).

Questions about Erik Nielsen

Who was Erik Nielsen?

Erik Hersholt Nielsen was a Canadian lawyer and Progressive Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Yukon from 1957 to 1987. He held several high-profile roles, including Deputy Prime Minister under Brian Mulroney, Leader of the Opposition, and Minister of National Defence. He was known for his aggressive parliamentary style and his strong advocacy for the interests of Canada's North. He was also the elder brother of actor Leslie Nielsen.

What was Erik Nielsen's role in Brian Mulroney's government?

In Brian Mulroney's government, which took office in 1984, Erik Nielsen served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986. He also held the position of President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada from 1984 to 1985 and was Minister of National Defence from 1985 to 1986. In practice, he acted as the senior government House Leader, responsible for managing the government's legislative agenda in Parliament. His tenure ended in June 1986 when he was forced to resign from cabinet amid political controversies.

What is the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport?

The Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport is the main airport serving Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon. It was renamed in honour of the former MP on December 15, 2008, just a few months after his death. The renaming by the Yukon government serves as a permanent memorial to Nielsen's three decades of service as the territory's federal representative and his advocacy for northern development. The airport was previously known simply as the Whitehorse International Airport.

Why was Erik Nielsen called 'Velcro lips'?

Erik Nielsen was called 'Velcro lips' for his tight lipped reticence and perceived secretive nature during his time in office. This nickname reflected a habit of stonewalling questions from the opposition and the media, a tactic that often prolonged political scandals and hurt the government's reputation. His tenacious and aggressive style, which made him a successful opposition MP, became a liability as a cabinet minister. This was most apparent during the Sinclair Stevens conflict of interest scandal when he faced intense questioning in Parliament. His approach gave the impression of being disdainful of criticism, which ultimately contributed to his resignation from cabinet in June 1986.

What was the 'Bell Ringing Affair' involving Erik Nielsen?

The 'Bell Ringing Affair' was a parliamentary protest engineered by Erik Nielsen in his role as Opposition House Leader from 1981 to 1983. He organized this tactic to protest the Liberal government's omnibus energy bill. The protest involved the opposition refusing to respond to the bell summoning Members of Parliament to the chamber to vote. This action caused the business of the House of Commons of Canada to grind to a halt for three weeks. The affair demonstrated Nielsen's deep knowledge of parliamentary practice and his combative, aggressive approach to opposition politics during the 1960s and 1970s.

What was Erik Nielsen's relationship to actor Leslie Nielsen?

Erik Nielsen was the elder brother of the famous actor and comedian Leslie Nielsen. He was the eldest of three boys in his family. Their relationship was well known and even formed the premise of a 1986 HBO mockumentary titled The Canadian Conspiracy, which comically alleged a Canadian subversion of the United States through its media. After Erik's death, Leslie Nielsen publicly praised his brother's commitment to service and the North. Erik Nielsen was also a nephew of actor Jean Hersholt, indicating a family connection to the entertainment industry beyond his immediate sibling.

Sources and further reading

• Erik Nielsen (Wikipedia)
• Erik Hersholt Nielsen (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca)
• Death of former Yukon MP Nielsen 'big loss' for Canadians (cbc.ca)
• Deputy PM Erik Nielsen grew up on Prairies, represented ... (leaderpost.com)

Checked by the Nosy Mag desk. Last updated 2026-10-26.