Eugene Whelan
Encyclopedia
Eugene "Gene" Francis Whelan, PC
OC
(icon; born July 11, 1924) is a retired Canadian
politician
. Whelan, a farmer
, first won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1962 election
representing the southwestern Ontario
riding of Essex
. He sat continuously in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1984 and was later a Senator
.
Born in Amherstburg, Ontario
, the son of Charles B. Whelan and Frances L. Kelly, he was educated in Windsor
and Walkerville
. In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. Whelan served as warden of Essex County
in 1962. He was also reeve for Anderdon Township.
In 1972, Whelan became Minister of Agriculture in the cabinet
of Pierre Trudeau
, and held the position until Trudeau's retirement in 1984 except during the 1979-1980 Joe Clark
government. He became a well known figure due to his plain-spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble) and his green stetson
hat.
Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last.
He served as president of the United Nations World Food Council
from 1983 to 1985.
Eugene Whelan was appointed as Canadian ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization
in Rome
, prompting Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
leader Brian Mulroney
to promise to rescind the appointment if he became Prime Minister
. Mulroney won the 1984 election
, and recalled Whelan as one of his first acts of office.
In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
In 1996, Whelan was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Jean Chrétien
, and served in the chamber until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 1999.
Whelan's daughter, Susan Whelan
was elected to the House of Commons in 1993
in her father's old riding
and, in 2002, became Minister of International Trade in Chrétien's cabinet. She was dropped from Cabinet when Paul Martin
became prime minister.
Whelan was the author with Rick Archbold of Whelan: The Man in the Green Stetson, ISBN 0-7725-1621-9, published in 1986.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
OC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(icon; born July 11, 1924) is a retired Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Whelan, a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
, first won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1962 election
Canadian federal election, 1962
The Canadian federal election of 1962 was held on June 18, 1962 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 25th Parliament of Canada...
representing the southwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
riding of Essex
Essex (electoral district)
Essex is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1882 and since 1968.-Geography:...
. He sat continuously in the House of Commons until his retirement in 1984 and was later a Senator
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
.
Born in Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
, the son of Charles B. Whelan and Frances L. Kelly, he was educated in Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
and Walkerville
Walkerville, Ontario
The former town of Walkerville Ontario, Canada is now a heritage precinct of Windsor Ontario. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whisky. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent...
. In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger. He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. Whelan served as warden of Essex County
Essex County, Ontario
Essex County is a county and census division located in Southwestern Ontario and covers an area at the southernmost tip of Canada. The administrative seat is Essex...
in 1962. He was also reeve for Anderdon Township.
In 1972, Whelan became Minister of Agriculture in the cabinet
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
of Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
, and held the position until Trudeau's retirement in 1984 except during the 1979-1980 Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
government. He became a well known figure due to his plain-spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble) and his green stetson
Stetson
Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...
hat.
Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last.
He served as president of the United Nations World Food Council
World Food Council
World Food Council was a United Nations organization established by the UN General Assembly in December 1974 by recommendation of the World Food Conference. Its headquarter was in Rome, Italy. WFC's goal was to serve as coordinating body for national ministries of agriculture to help reduce...
from 1983 to 1985.
Eugene Whelan was appointed as Canadian ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, prompting Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
leader Brian Mulroney
Brian Mulroney
Martin Brian Mulroney, was the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from September 17, 1984, to June 25, 1993 and was leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada from 1983 to 1993. His tenure as Prime Minister was marked by the introduction of major economic reforms, such as the Canada-U.S...
to promise to rescind the appointment if he became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
. Mulroney won the 1984 election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
, and recalled Whelan as one of his first acts of office.
In 1987, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
In 1996, Whelan was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Jean Chrétien
Jean Chrétien
Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003....
, and served in the chamber until he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in 1999.
Whelan's daughter, Susan Whelan
Susan Whelan
Susan Elizabeth Whelan, PC is a former Canadian Member of Parliament with the Liberal Party of Canada. Whelan, a lawyer, first won a seat in the Canadian House of Common in the 1993 election representing Essex—Windsor. In 1997 and 2000 she was elected to represent Essex...
was elected to the House of Commons in 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
in her father's old riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
and, in 2002, became Minister of International Trade in Chrétien's cabinet. She was dropped from Cabinet when Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
became prime minister.
Whelan was the author with Rick Archbold of Whelan: The Man in the Green Stetson, ISBN 0-7725-1621-9, published in 1986.