article

Munsinger Affair

Between 1958 and 1961 Pierre SÉVIGNY , John DIEFENBAKER's associate minister of national defence, had an affair with Gerda Munsinger, a German immigrant. Acting on information from American sources, the RCMP warned

Munsinger Affair

 Between 1958 and 1961 Pierre SÉVIGNY, John DIEFENBAKER's associate minister of national defence, had an affair with Gerda Munsinger, a German immigrant. Acting on information from American sources, the RCMP warned Justice Minister Davie FULTON that Munsinger was a prostitute and a security risk. Fulton told Diefenbaker, who reprimanded Sévigny. Munsinger returned to Germany while Sévigny remained in the Cabinet. The affair meant nothing to anyone except the principals until Liberal Justice Minister Lucien Cardin, angered by Conservative taunts about security leaks, raised Munsinger's name 4 March 1966 in the Commons. The press revelled in Canada's first major parliamentary sex scandal. A royal commission criticized Diefenbaker's leniency but found no security breach.

Help students and educators this school year!

The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canada, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization devoted to teaching Canadians more about our shared country. Last school year, over 13 million people used The Canadian Encyclopedia as a trusted resource. Nearly 5 million of those users were students and teachers. Please donate today to help even more Canadians access free, impartial, fact-checked, regularly updated information about Canada’s history and culture in both official languages. All donations above $3 will receive a tax receipt.

Donate