 | The article's lead section may need to be rewritten. (February 2014) |
Eugene Whelan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Agriculture | |
| In office 3 March 1980 – 29 June 1984 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | John Wise |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Ferguson |
| In office 27 November 1972 – 3 June 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Bud Olson |
| Succeeded by | John Wise |
| Senator for South Western Ontario | |
| In office 9 August 1996 – 11 July 1999 | |
| Appointed by | Jean Chrétien |
| Member of Parliament for Essex (Essex—Windsor; 1972–1984) | |
| In office 25 June 1968 – 3 September 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Riding re-created |
| Succeeded by | Steven Langdon |
| Member of Parliament for Essex South | |
| In office 18 June 1962 – 24 June 1968 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Thrasher |
| Succeeded by | Riding dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eugene Francis Whelan 11 July 1924 Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 19 February 2013 (aged 88) Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada |
| Resting place | St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada 42°6′35.52″N 83°5′00.43″W / 42.1098667°N 83.0834528°W |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Pollinger (m. 1960) |
| Children | 3, including Susan |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Signature |  |
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan PC OC CD PAg LLD (h.c.) (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best-known politicians.[1] During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U.S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War.[2] In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
- He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct.
- And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it.[3]
Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly.[4]
When he announced that he was running for the Liberal leadership in 1984, he said:
I don't think there is any politician that is as well known in the world as I am.[5]
- ^ "Former Liberal cabinet minister Eugene Whelan dead at 88". The Globe and Mail. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- ^ Trevor Wilhelm (20 February 2013). "'He's just a great Canadian. Definitely one of the best'". Windsor Star. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
- ^ "Editorial: Eugene Whelan was one-of-a-kind politician". Windsor Star. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
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