Douglas Harkness

Harkness, Douglas Scott

Douglas Scott Harkness, teacher, farmer, politician (b at Toronto 29 Mar 1903; d at Calgary 2 May 1999). A schoolteacher, farmer and war hero, Harkness was first elected to the House of Commons for Calgary East in 1945; he subsequently represented Calgary North and Calgary Centre. Tory critic for northern affairs and natural resources between 1945 and 1957, he became minister of agriculture in 1957 and was especially interested in crop insurance and debt adjustment. Appointed minister of defence in October 1960, Harkness advocated nuclear weapons for Canada and was soon in conflict with John DIEFENBAKER. He resigned from the government in February 1963 over the issue, but sat in the House until 1972. He was awarded the George Medal in 1943 for his participation in the Sicilian campaign of World War II and became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1978.