Harry Albert Willis
Encyclopedia
Harry Albert Willis was a Canadian Senator
and long-time fundraiser and organizer for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
in Ontario
.
Born in Belfountain, Ontario, Wilson was Ontario chairman of the federal party's Ontario wing from 1943 until 1963.
A lawyer by training, Willis was a graduate of McMaster University
and Osgoode Hall Law School
. He was appointed to his party position by then federal leader John Bracken
.
Under John George Diefenbaker, Willis was one of the "three musketeers" who ran the Ontario wing along with Edwin A. Goodman
and Senator William Brunt
.
Diefenbaker appointed Willis to the Senate in June 1962. He stepped down as Ontario chairman following the 1963 federal election
in which the Tories were defeated by Lester Pearson's Liberals
with only 26 Progressive Conservative MPs being elected in Ontario.
In the business world, Willis sat on several boards of directors, including those of Denison Mines
and Standard Trust. He was president of Caledon Holdings Limited, which developed residential subdivisions. The company owned 1000 acres (4 km²) near which Wilson wished to develop despite the province's plans to create park Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
. Wilson continued buying property in the area despite the province's plans. The provincial Progressive Conservative government purchased the land from Wilson in 1971, giving him an 81% profit, which resulted in complaints by the parliamentary opposition and a formal inquiry which found no wrong-doing on the part of Willis but which criticized the government for not bargaining for a lower price.
Willis died in flight from Ottawa to Toronto.
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...
and long-time fundraiser and organizer for the 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....
in 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....
.
Born in Belfountain, Ontario, Wilson was Ontario chairman of the federal party's Ontario wing from 1943 until 1963.
A lawyer by training, Willis was a graduate of McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
and Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He was appointed to his party position by then federal leader John Bracken
John Bracken
John Bracken, PC was an agronomist, the 11th Premier of Manitoba and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada ....
.
Under John George Diefenbaker, Willis was one of the "three musketeers" who ran the Ontario wing along with Edwin A. Goodman
Edwin A. Goodman
Edwin A. Goodman, PC, OC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and political figure.Goodman was called to the bar in 1947 and was one of the founding partners of Goodmans LLP, a Toronto law firm as well as a life bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada...
and Senator William Brunt
William Brunt
William Ralph Brunt was a Canadian Senator and a close, personal friend and advisor of Prime Minister John George Diefenbaker....
.
Diefenbaker appointed Willis to the Senate in June 1962. He stepped down as Ontario chairman following the 1963 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1963
The Canadian federal election of 1963 was held on April 8 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 26th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in the defeat of the minority Progressive Conservative government of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker.-Overview:During the Tories' last year in...
in which the Tories were defeated by Lester Pearson's Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
with only 26 Progressive Conservative MPs being elected in Ontario.
In the business world, Willis sat on several boards of directors, including those of Denison Mines
Denison Mines
Denison Mines Corp. is a Canadian uranium exploration, development, and production company. Founded by Stephen B. Roman, and best known for its uranium mining in Elliot Lake, it later diversified into coal, potash, and other projects....
and Standard Trust. He was president of Caledon Holdings Limited, which developed residential subdivisions. The company owned 1000 acres (4 km²) near which Wilson wished to develop despite the province's plans to create park Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park
Forks of the Credit Provincial Park is located in Caledon, Ontario, Canada, and is part of the Ontario Parks system and is part of the Niagara Escarpment biosphere. The park is on the Bruce Trail. The Credit River runs through the park. Other notable features of the park include a kettle lake,...
. Wilson continued buying property in the area despite the province's plans. The provincial Progressive Conservative government purchased the land from Wilson in 1971, giving him an 81% profit, which resulted in complaints by the parliamentary opposition and a formal inquiry which found no wrong-doing on the part of Willis but which criticized the government for not bargaining for a lower price.
Willis died in flight from Ottawa to Toronto.