Robert Mendel Laxer[1] (September 10, 1915 – October 24, 1998)[1] was a Canadian psychologist, professor, author, and political activist.
[2] In 1969, he joined his son, James Laxer, and Mel Watkins to form the Waffle, a socialist group within the New Democratic Party.
He was appointed by Pierre Trudeau to the board of directors of Petro-Canada which had been created as a state-owned crown corporation, in part, due to Laxer's arguments.
[2] In the 1980s, Laxer was active in the Council of Canadians, the peace movement, and as an opponent of the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement.
Laxer had two sons, James and Gordon, both of whom were political economists and writers, and a daughter, Linda, a social worker and therapist.