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{{short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox CanadianMP
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix= [[The Honourable]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| image = George Hees.jpg
| name = George Hees
| honorific-suffix= {{post-nominals|PC|OC|size=100%}}
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC|size=100%}}
| imagesize =
| caption =
| image = George Hees.jpg
| alt =
| parliament1=Canadian
| caption = Hees {{circa}} 1942–1948
| riding1 = [[Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)|Northumberland]]
| office = [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]]
| term_start1 = May 22, 1979
| term_end1 = November 21, 1988
| term_start = September 17, 1984
| term_end = September 14, 1988
| predecessor1 = ''Riding Re-Established''
| successor1 = [[Christine Stewart]]
| primeminister = [[Brian Mulroney]]
| predecessor = [[Bennett Campbell]]
| term_start2 = November 8, 1965
| successor = [[Gerald Merrithew]]
| term_end2 = June 25, 1968
| office1 = [[Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry#Preceding offices|Minister of Trade and Commerce]]
| predecessor2= [[Pauline Jewett]]
| term_start1 = October 11, 1960
| successor2= ''Riding Abolished''
| term_end1 = February 8, 1963
| parliament3=Canadian
| riding3 = [[Prince Edward—Hastings]]
| primeminister1 = [[John Diefenbaker]]
| predecessor1 = [[Gordon Churchill]]
| term_start3= June 25, 1968
| successor1 = [[Malcolm Wallace McCutcheon]]
| term_end3 = May 22, 1979
| office2 = [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]]
| predecessor3= ''Riding Established''
| term_start2 = June 21, 1957
| successor3= ''Riding Abolished''
| term_end2 = October 10, 1960
| parliament4=Canadian
| primeminister2 = John Diefenbaker
| riding4 = [[Broadview (electoral district)|Broadview]]
| predecessor2 = [[George Carlyle Marler]]
| term_start4 = May 15, 1950
| successor2 = [[Léon Balcer]]
| term_end4 = April 8, 1963
| riding3 = [[Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)|Northumberland]]<br />{{small|([[Prince Edward—Hastings (federal electoral district)|Prince Edward—Hastings]]; 1968–1979)}}
| predecessor4 = [[Thomas Langton Church|Thomas Church]]
| successor4 = [[David Hahn (Canadian politician)|David Hahn]]
| parliament3 = Canadian
| term_start3 = November 8, 1965
| party = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Conservative]]
|birth_name = George Harris Hees
| term_end3 = November 21, 1988
| predecessor3 = [[Pauline Jewett]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|06|17}}
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| successor3 = [[Christine Stewart]]
| riding4 = [[Broadview (federal electoral district)|Broadview]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|06|11|1910|06|17}}
| death_place =
| parliament4 = Canadian
| spouse =
| term_start4 = May 15, 1950
| residence =
| term_end4 = April 8, 1963
| predecessor4 = [[Thomas Langton Church|Thomas Church]]
| profession = Soldier, businessman
| successor4 = [[David Hahn (Canadian politician)|David Hahn]]
| party = [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada|Progressive Conservative]]
| birth_name = George Harris Hees
| birth_date = {{birth date|1910|06|17}}
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|06|11|1910|06|17}}
| death_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| spouse = {{Marriage|Mabel Dunlop|1934|1993|reason=died}}
| residence =
| profession = {{hlist|Politician|soldier|businessman}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography

{{Infobox gridiron football person
|name=George Hees
|name=George Hees
|image=
|image=
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|number=
|number=
|College=[[University of Toronto]] & [[Royal Military College of Canada|Royal Military College]]
|College=[[University of Toronto]] & [[Royal Military College of Canada|Royal Military College]]
|birth_date={{birth date|1910|06|17}}
|birth_place=[[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
|death_date={{death date and age|1996|06|11|1910|06|17}}
|death_place=
|Height_ft=6
|Height_ft=6
|Height_in=3
|Height_in=3
Line 61: Line 66:
|CFHOFYear=
|CFHOFYear=
}}
}}

'''George Harris Hees''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC}} (June 17, 1910 – June 11, 1996) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[politician]].
'''George Harris Hees''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|OC}} (June 17, 1910 – June 11, 1996) was a Canadian [[politician]] and businessman.


==Background==
==Background==
Born in [[Toronto]] to a patrician family, Hees earned a playboy image during his youth (nicknamed Gorgeous George), but then became a stalwart member of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Canada]]. He was educated at the exclusive [[Crescent School (Toronto)|Crescent School]] in Toronto, [[Trinity College School]] in [[Port Hope, Ontario]], the [[Royal Military College of Canada|Royal Military College]], student #1976 (where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Military Science in 1986), the [[University of Toronto]], and spent a year at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] in 1933.
Born in [[Toronto]], Hees was educated at the exclusive [[Crescent School (Toronto)|Crescent School]] in Toronto, [[Trinity College School]] in [[Port Hope, Ontario]], the [[Royal Military College of Canada|Royal Military College]], student #1976 (where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Military Science in 1986), the [[University of Toronto]], and spent a year at [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge University]] in 1933.


==Athlete==
==Athlete==
He was a noted athlete, winning championships in [[boxing]] and [[lacrosse]] at Cambridge. As a professional football player he played 3 seasons with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] (11 regular season and 3 playoff games)<ref>2008 Toronto Argonaut Media Guide</ref> and won the [[Grey Cup]] in 1938. And while serving during the Second World War, he also had the good fortune to play in the famed ''Tea Bowl'' for the Canadian Army football team against American Army team at White City Stadium on February 13, 1944 in London, England (the Canadians won 16-6).<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+coffee+%26+tea+bowls%3A+football+classics%3A+Canada+vs.+the+United...-a0125648075 The coffee & tea bowls: football classics: Canada vs. the United States in wartime London as Spitfires fly cover.]</ref>
He was a noted athlete, winning championships in [[boxing]] and [[lacrosse]] at Cambridge. As a professional [[Canadian football|football]] player he was a star linebacker with the [[Toronto Argonauts]] team that won the [[1938 Grey Cup]].<ref name = "Obit VANSUN">
{{Cite news
| last1 = Broome
| first1 = Douglas
| title = The (publicly) dapper, (privately) determined George Hees
| work = [[The Vancouver Sun]]
| date = 14 June 1996
| page = A19
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-the-publicly-dapper/150417501/
| access-date = 1 July 2024
| via = Newspapers.com

}}</ref> While serving during the Second World War, he played in the famed ''Tea Bowl'' for the Canadian Army football team against American Army team at [[White City Stadium]] in London on February 13, 1944; the Canadians won 16-6.<ref name = "Coffee/Tea Bowl">
{{Cite news
| last1 = Twatio
| first1 = Bill
| title = The coffee & tea bowls: football classics: Canada vs. the United States in wartime London as Spitfires fly cover
| work = [[Esprit de Corps (magazine) | Esprit de Corps]]
| date = 1 November 2004
| url = http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+coffee+%26+tea+bowls%3A+football+classics%3A+Canada+vs.+the+United...-a0125648075
| access-date = 1 July 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141128201348/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+coffee+%26+tea+bowls%3A+football+classics%3A+Canada+vs.+the+United...-a0125648075
| archive-date = 28 November 2014
| url-status = live
| via = [[The Free Library]]
}}</ref>


==Military service==
==Military service==
He attended The Royal Military College of Canada from 1927 to 1931. He then attended the University of Toronto and concurrently served with The Royal Grenadiers, a Militia Regiment based in Toronto for four years. He served in the Canadian Army in North-West Europe during the [[Second World War]]. During the [[Battle of the Scheldt]], he served as the [[Brigade Major]] of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 1 November 1944, he volunteered to take over command of a company of [[The Calgary Highlanders]] when all their officers were killed or wounded after crossing the [[Battle of Walcheren Causeway|Walcheren Causeway]]. He was later wounded by a sniper and was repatriated to Canada and discharged.
He attended The Royal Military College of Canada from 1927 to 1931. He then attended the University of Toronto and concurrently served for four years with [[The Royal Regiment of Canada|The Royal Grenadiers]], a Militia Regiment based in Toronto. He served in the [[Canadian Army]] in North-West Europe during the [[Second World War]]. During the [[Battle of the Scheldt]], he served as the [[brigade major]] of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 1 November 1944, he volunteered to take over command of a company of [[The Calgary Highlanders]] when all their officers were killed or wounded after crossing the [[Battle of Walcheren Causeway|Walcheren Causeway]]. He was wounded in the arm during the battle, evacuated, and repatriated to Canada where he was discharged from active service.


==Politics==
==Politics==
After placing second to [[David Croll]] in the Toronto riding of [[Spadina (electoral district)|Spadina]] in the [[Canadian federal election, 1945|1945 federal election]], he won election to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in a 1950 by-election in the nearby riding of [[Broadview (electoral district)|Broadview]]. He was also President of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1953 to 1956.
After placing second to [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] candidate [[David Croll]] in the Toronto riding of [[Spadina (electoral district)|Spadina]] in the [[1945 Canadian federal election|1945 federal election]], he won election to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in a 1950 by-election in the nearby riding of [[Broadview (federal electoral district)|Broadview]]. He was also President of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1953 to 1956.


[[File:GeorgeHeesVisitsEskimos.jpg|thumb|left|Hees visiting [[Inuit]] in [[Iqaluit, Nunavut|Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories]], 1958.]]
{{stack|[[File:GeorgeHeesVisitsEskimos.jpg|thumb|Hees visiting [[Inuit]] in [[Iqaluit|Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories]], 1958.]]}}


With the election of the [[John George Diefenbaker|Diefenbaker]] government in 1957, Hees was named [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]], and oversaw the opening of the [[St Lawrence Seaway]] and the new [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport|Halifax International Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Halifax Opens New Airport|work=The New York Times|date=11 September 1960|page=42}}</ref> In 1960, he was appointed [[Minister of International Trade (Canada)|Minister of Trade and Commerce]]. During this period, Hees was regarded as the second most powerful man in the Tory party. However, in 1963, he had falling out with Diefenbaker, and became embroiled in the [[Munsinger Affair]] and elected to sit out the [[Canadian federal election, 1963|1963 election]], which the Tories lost to [[Lester Pearson]].
When the PCs under [[John Diefenbaker]] won government in [[1957 Canadian federal election|1957]], Hees was named [[Minister of Transport (Canada)|Minister of Transport]], and oversaw the opening of the [[Saint Lawrence Seaway]] and the new [[Halifax Stanfield International Airport|Halifax International Airport]].<ref name = "YHZ Opened 1960">{{cite news| author = Times Staff |title=$18,000,000 Airport at Halifax To Be Formally Opened Today|work=The New York Times|date=10 September 1960|page=42 | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/09/10/99796607.html?pageNumber=42 | access-date = 1 July 2024 | url-access = subscription}}</ref> In 1960, he was appointed [[Minister of International Trade (Canada)|Minister of Trade and Commerce]]. During this period, Hees was regarded as the second most powerful man in the Tory party. However, in 1963, he fell out with Diefenbaker, and became embroiled in the [[Munsinger Affair]] and elected to sit out the [[1963 Canadian federal election|1963 election]]. In that election, the Liberals replaced the Tories' [[minority government]] with one of their own, causing Diefenbaker's succession with [[Lester B. Pearson]] as [[Prime Minister of Canada|prime minister]].


After considering a defection to the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberals]], he became President of the [[Montreal Stock Exchange]], he returned to Parliament in the [[Canadian federal election, 1965|1965 election]] as a PC, defeating [[Pauline Jewett]] in the rural riding of [[Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)|Northumberland]], and remained in the front rows of the opposition ranks for almost two decades.
Hees considered leaving the Conservatives for the Liberals, but did not do so. He became president of the [[Montreal Stock Exchange]]. He returned to Parliament in the [[1965 Canadian federal election|1965 election]] as a PC, defeating Liberal MP [[Pauline Jewett]] in the rural riding of [[Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)|Northumberland]], and remained in the front rows of the opposition ranks for almost two decades.


He ran for the leadership of the PC Party at its [[Progressive Conservative leadership convention, 1967|1967 leadership convention]], and placed fourth in a field of eleven on the first ballot. He remained for two further ballots before withdrawing, and supporting the eventual winner, [[Robert Stanfield]].
He ran for the leadership of the PC Party at its [[1967 Progressive Conservative leadership convention|1967 leadership convention]], and placed fourth in a field of eleven on the first ballot. He remained for two further ballots before withdrawing, and supporting the eventual winner, [[Nova Scotia]] [[Premier of Nova Scotia|Premier]] [[Robert Stanfield]].


He was noted as being involved in a memorable case of battery, in which he forcefully ejected a campaign worker from his room, striking his head against the door. Hees tried to plead self-defence, which failed due to the lack of imminent harm anticipated by him (MacDonald v. Hees (1974), 46 D.L.R. (3d) (N.S.T.D.)).
He was noted for being involved in a [[1972 Canadian federal election | 1972 election campaign]] incident. On 22 September 1972, Hees forcefully ejected campaign worker Douglas MacDonald from his motel room in [[Trenton, Nova Scotia]]. He struck MacDonald's head against the door, shattering some glass that lacerated him in several places. During the trial, Hees tried to plead self-defence. His plea failed and on 22 February 1974, the [[Nova Scotia Supreme Court]] ordered him to pay $6,175 to MacDonald.<ref name = "1974 Assault Verdict">
{{Cite news
| author = CP Staff
| title = Hees must pay $6,175 to man he threw out
| work = [[The Toronto Star]]
| page = A3
| edition = Two Star
| date = 23 February 1974
| url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-hees-must-pay-6175-to/150415993/
| access-date = 1 July 2024
| via = Newspapers.com
}}</ref>


He was not named to Cabinet during the [[Joe Clark]] government in 1979, and was quoted as Clark stepped down in the 1983 leadership race;
He was not named to Cabinet during the [[Joe Clark]] government in 1979–80, and was quoted saying, as Clark stepped down in the 1983 leadership race, "We've got him! We've got the S.O.B."
"We've got him! We've got the s.o.b."


In 1981, Hees was the Chairman of the Canada-US Permanent Joint Board on Defence. In this role, he was the first Canadian to bring to the attention of then-Prime Minister Trudeau the US request to test nuclear-capable cruise missiles over Canadian territory.<ref>John Murray Clearwater, Just Dummies: Cruise Missile Testing in Canada (Alberta: University of Calgary Press, 2006), pp. 4-5.</ref>
In 1981, Hees was the Chairman of the Canada-US Permanent Joint Board on Defence. In this role, he was the first Canadian to bring to the attention of then-Prime Minister [[Pierre Trudeau]] the US request to test nuclear-capable cruise missiles over Canadian territory.<ref name = "Cruise Missle Testing">
{{Cite book
| last1 = Clearwater
| first1 = John Murray
| title = Just Dummies: Cruise Missile Testing in Canada
| publisher = [[University of Calgary Press]]
| year = 2006
| pages = 4–5
| url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv6gqvz1
| url-access = subscription
| isbn = 978-1-55238-378-0
}}</ref>


When [[Brian Mulroney]] led the party to a majority government in 1984, Hees was named [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]]. Hees retired from politics in 1988. In 1989 he was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]].
When [[Brian Mulroney]] led the party to a majority government in [[1984 Canadian federal election|1984]], Hees was named [[Minister of Veterans Affairs (Canada)|Minister of Veterans Affairs]]. Hees retired from politics at the [[1988 Canadian federal election]]. In 1989 he was made an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]].


There is a veterans wing at Toronto's [[Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre]] bearing his name, and in close proximity to the relocated [[Crescent School (Toronto)|Crescent School]] he attended as a child.
There is a veterans wing at Toronto's [[Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre]] bearing his name, and near the relocated [[Crescent School (Toronto)|Crescent School]] he attended as a child.


==Election results (partial)==
==Election results (partial)==
{{Canadian federal election, 1958/Broadview}}
{{1958 Canadian federal election/Broadview}}


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==

Hees was portrayed by [[Christopher Plummer]] in the 1997 TV miniseries ''[[The Arrow (miniseries)|The Arrow]]''.
Hees was portrayed by [[Christopher Plummer]] in the 1997 TV miniseries ''[[The Arrow (miniseries)|The Arrow]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060305165815/http://www.crescentschool.org/alumni_hees.asp Crescent School Alumni Wall of Honour 1995]
* {{occ|2643}}
* {{occ|2643}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=10352}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=10352}}


==References==
{{reflist}}
{{26th Grey Cup}}
{{26th Grey Cup}}
{{Mulroney Ministry}}
{{Mulroney Ministry}}
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[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:Canadian Anglicans]]
[[Category:Canadian Anglicans]]
[[Category:Canadian Ministers of Transport]]
[[Category:Ministers of transport of Canada]]
[[Category:Grey Cup champions]]
[[Category:Members of the 18th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the 18th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the 24th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the 24th Canadian Ministry]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario]]
[[Category:Members of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Royal Military College of Canada alumni]]
[[Category:Royal Military College of Canada alumni]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Toronto]]
[[Category:Canadian football people from Toronto]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:Toronto Argonauts players]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]
[[Category:University of Toronto alumni]]

Latest revision as of 08:02, 1 July 2024

The Honourable
George Hees
PC OC
Hees c. 1942–1948
Minister of Veterans Affairs
In office
September 17, 1984 – September 14, 1988
Prime MinisterBrian Mulroney
Preceded byBennett Campbell
Succeeded byGerald Merrithew
Minister of Trade and Commerce
In office
October 11, 1960 – February 8, 1963
Prime MinisterJohn Diefenbaker
Preceded byGordon Churchill
Succeeded byMalcolm Wallace McCutcheon
Minister of Transport
In office
June 21, 1957 – October 10, 1960
Prime MinisterJohn Diefenbaker
Preceded byGeorge Carlyle Marler
Succeeded byLéon Balcer
Member of Parliament
for Northumberland
(Prince Edward—Hastings; 1968–1979)
In office
November 8, 1965 – November 21, 1988
Preceded byPauline Jewett
Succeeded byChristine Stewart
Member of Parliament
for Broadview
In office
May 15, 1950 – April 8, 1963
Preceded byThomas Church
Succeeded byDavid Hahn
Personal details
Born
George Harris Hees

(1910-06-17)June 17, 1910
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedJune 11, 1996(1996-06-11) (aged 85)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Spouse
Mabel Dunlop
​
​
(m. 1934; died 1993)​
Profession
  • Politician
  • soldier
  • businessman
George Hees
Career information
Position(s)C
Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
CollegeUniversity of Toronto & Royal Military College
Career history
As player
1934, 1937–38Toronto Argonauts
Career highlights and awards
HonoursGrey Cup champion - 1938

George Harris Hees PC OC (June 17, 1910 – June 11, 1996) was a Canadian politician and businessman.

Background

[edit]

Born in Toronto, Hees was educated at the exclusive Crescent School in Toronto, Trinity College School in Port Hope, Ontario, the Royal Military College, student #1976 (where he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Military Science in 1986), the University of Toronto, and spent a year at Cambridge University in 1933.

Athlete

[edit]

He was a noted athlete, winning championships in boxing and lacrosse at Cambridge. As a professional football player he was a star linebacker with the Toronto Argonauts team that won the 1938 Grey Cup.[1] While serving during the Second World War, he played in the famed Tea Bowl for the Canadian Army football team against American Army team at White City Stadium in London on February 13, 1944; the Canadians won 16-6.[2]

Military service

[edit]

He attended The Royal Military College of Canada from 1927 to 1931. He then attended the University of Toronto and concurrently served for four years with The Royal Grenadiers, a Militia Regiment based in Toronto. He served in the Canadian Army in North-West Europe during the Second World War. During the Battle of the Scheldt, he served as the brigade major of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. On 1 November 1944, he volunteered to take over command of a company of The Calgary Highlanders when all their officers were killed or wounded after crossing the Walcheren Causeway. He was wounded in the arm during the battle, evacuated, and repatriated to Canada where he was discharged from active service.

Politics

[edit]

After placing second to Liberal candidate David Croll in the Toronto riding of Spadina in the 1945 federal election, he won election to the House of Commons of Canada in a 1950 by-election in the nearby riding of Broadview. He was also President of the Progressive Conservative Party from 1953 to 1956.

When the PCs under John Diefenbaker won government in 1957, Hees was named Minister of Transport, and oversaw the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the new Halifax International Airport.[3] In 1960, he was appointed Minister of Trade and Commerce. During this period, Hees was regarded as the second most powerful man in the Tory party. However, in 1963, he fell out with Diefenbaker, and became embroiled in the Munsinger Affair and elected to sit out the 1963 election. In that election, the Liberals replaced the Tories' minority government with one of their own, causing Diefenbaker's succession with Lester B. Pearson as prime minister.

Hees considered leaving the Conservatives for the Liberals, but did not do so. He became president of the Montreal Stock Exchange. He returned to Parliament in the 1965 election as a PC, defeating Liberal MP Pauline Jewett in the rural riding of Northumberland, and remained in the front rows of the opposition ranks for almost two decades.

He ran for the leadership of the PC Party at its 1967 leadership convention, and placed fourth in a field of eleven on the first ballot. He remained for two further ballots before withdrawing, and supporting the eventual winner, Nova Scotia Premier Robert Stanfield.

He was noted for being involved in a 1972 election campaign incident. On 22 September 1972, Hees forcefully ejected campaign worker Douglas MacDonald from his motel room in Trenton, Nova Scotia. He struck MacDonald's head against the door, shattering some glass that lacerated him in several places. During the trial, Hees tried to plead self-defence. His plea failed and on 22 February 1974, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court ordered him to pay $6,175 to MacDonald.[4]

He was not named to Cabinet during the Joe Clark government in 1979–80, and was quoted saying, as Clark stepped down in the 1983 leadership race, "We've got him! We've got the S.O.B."

In 1981, Hees was the Chairman of the Canada-US Permanent Joint Board on Defence. In this role, he was the first Canadian to bring to the attention of then-Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau the US request to test nuclear-capable cruise missiles over Canadian territory.[5]

When Brian Mulroney led the party to a majority government in 1984, Hees was named Minister of Veterans Affairs. Hees retired from politics at the 1988 Canadian federal election. In 1989 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

There is a veterans wing at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre bearing his name, and near the relocated Crescent School he attended as a child.

Election results (partial)

[edit]
1958 Canadian federal election: Broadview
Party Candidate Votes
Progressive Conservative George Hees 15,364
Liberal George A. Taylor 4,738
Co-operative Commonwealth John Alan Lee 3,356
Socialist Ross Dowson 447
[edit]

Hees was portrayed by Christopher Plummer in the 1997 TV miniseries The Arrow.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Broome, Douglas (14 June 1996). "The (publicly) dapper, (privately) determined George Hees". The Vancouver Sun. p. A19. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Twatio, Bill (1 November 2004). "The coffee & tea bowls: football classics: Canada vs. the United States in wartime London as Spitfires fly cover". Esprit de Corps. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via The Free Library.
  3. ^ Times Staff (10 September 1960). "$18,000,000 Airport at Halifax To Be Formally Opened Today". The New York Times. p. 42. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  4. ^ CP Staff (23 February 1974). "Hees must pay $6,175 to man he threw out". The Toronto Star (Two Star ed.). p. A3. Retrieved 1 July 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Clearwater, John Murray (2006). Just Dummies: Cruise Missile Testing in Canada. University of Calgary Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-1-55238-378-0.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=George_Hees&oldid=1231976311"