Joan Heather Duncan, née Tratch (October 30, 1941 – September 23, 2015) was a pharmacist and politician in

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan ( ; ) is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada, western Canada, bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and on t ...

. She represented Maple Creek from 1978 to 1991 in the

Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan The Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan is the legislative chamber of the Saskatchewan Legislature in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Bills passed by the assembly are given royal assent by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, in the na ...

as a Progressive Conservative. She was born in

Cudworth, Saskatchewan Cudworth () is a small town in Saskatchewan, Canada. Cudworth is located approximately 85 km north-east of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in the Minnichinas Hills. Cudworth is in hilly partially forested country east of the South Saskatchewan ...

, the daughter of John Tratch and Edna Blakle, and was educated in

Wakaw Wakaw, Saskatchewan, is a town 90 km (56 miles) northeast of Saskatoon and 66 km (41 miles) south of Prince Albert. It is about halfway between the two cities and is served by Highway 2, Highway 41 and Highway 312. Wakaw is in hil ...

and at the

University of Saskatchewan A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

, where she studied pharmacy. In 1964, she married Donald John Duncan. Together they owned and operated Duncan's Drug Store in Maple Creek. Duncan was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1978 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Maple Creek constituency until 1991. Duncan and

Patricia Anne Smith Patricia Anne "Pat" Smith (born January 29, 1943) is a former political figure in Saskatchewan, Canada. She represented Swift Current from 1982 to 1991 in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan as a Progressive Conservative. She was born Patri ...

were the first female Cabinet ministers appointed to Executive Council in Saskatchewan. Duncan served in the

Grant Devine Donald Grant Devine, SOM (born July 5, 1944) was the 11th premier of Saskatchewan from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991. Early life Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, he received a BSc in Agriculture degree specializing in Agricultural Economics i ...

Government as Minister of Government Services (1982–1983); Minister of Revenue, Supply and Services (1982–1983); Minister of Revenue and Financial Services (1983); Minister of Supply and Services (1983); Minister of Consumer and Commercial Affairs (1983–1988); Minister of Co-operation and Co-operative Development (1986–1987) and Minister of Economic Development and Tourism (1988–1989). Duncan was Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Government Printing Company (1982–1983), Board of Revenue Commissioners (1982–1983), Public Service Superannuation Board (1982–1983), Public Employees Superannuation Plan (1983), Saskatchewan Development Fund (1982–1983), Office of the Rentalsman (1983–1987) Rent Appeal Commission (1983–1987) Provincial Mediation Board (1983–1987), Saskatchewan Securities Commission (1983–1985), Saskatchewan Minerals (1983–1986), Saskatchewan Government Insurance (1986–1988), Agricultural Implements Board (1985–1988) and Saskatchewan Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) (1988–1989). In 1989, Duncan was dropped from cabinet and she did not run for reelection in 1991. Duncan died on September 23, 2015. In 1995, she pleaded guilty to defrauding the government of Saskatchewan of $12,405. Duncan agreed to pay back the money and pay a $5,000 fine.

References

1941 births 2015 deaths Members of the Executive Council of Saskatchewan Women government ministers of Canada Women MLAs in Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan MLAs Canadian politicians convicted of fraud Corruption in Canada {{Saskatchewan-politician-stub