Douglas Harkness
The Hon. Douglas Scott Harkness | |
---|---|
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Calgary East | |
In office 1945–1953 | |
Preceded by | George Henry Ross |
Succeeded by | John Kushner |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Calgary North | |
In office 1953–1968 | |
Preceded by | District was created in 1952. |
Succeeded by | Eldon Woolliams |
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Calgary Centre | |
In office 1968–1972 | |
Preceded by | District was created in 1966. |
Succeeded by | Harvie Andre |
Personal details | |
Born | Toronto, Ontario | March 29, 1903
Died | May 2, 1999 96) Calgary, Alberta | (aged
Political party | Progressive Conservative |
Cabinet | Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources (1957) Minister of Agriculture (1957-1960) Minister of National Defence (1960-1963) |
Military service | |
Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | George Medal |
Douglas Scott Harkness, PC OC GM ED (March 29, 1903 – May 2, 1999), was a Canadian politician, teacher, farmer and former Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Canadian Artillery.
He was born in Toronto, Ontario and moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1929. He graduated from the University of Alberta, then farmed and taught school in the vicinity of Red Deer. He taught at Crescent Heights High School until 1939.
He fought during the Second World War and in 1943 was awarded the George Medal "in recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner".[1]
In 1945, he was elected to the House of Commons for the constituency of Calgary East and held various ministerial positions under the government of John Diefenbaker. He was sworn into the Queen's Privy Council for Canada on June 21, 1957 as Minister of Agriculture. In 1960, he was appointed Minister of National Defence. Harkness precipitated a political crisis when he resigned from cabinet in February 1963 in order to protest Diefenbaker's opposition to stationing American nuclear warheads in Canada. The resignation precipitated a split in the cabinet and contributed to the defeat of the government in the 1963 federal election. However, Harkness continued to sit as a Member of Parliament until 1972.
He lived in Calgary until his death in 1999.
In 1978 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. The Douglas Harkness Community School in Calgary is named in his honour.
Parliamentary functions
- Minister of Agriculture (Acting), (1957.06.21 - 1957.08.06)
- Minister of Northern Affairs and National Resources, (1957.06.21 - 1957.08.18)
- Minister of Agriculture, (1957.08.07 - 1960.10.10)
- Minister of National Defence, (1960.10.11 - 1963.02.03)
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36427. p. 1. 4 March 1944.
External links
- Douglas Harkness – Parliament of Canada biography
- Douglas Scott Harkness at The Canadian Encyclopedia
|
|