Arthur Meen

Arthur Kenneth Meen (March 17, 1924 – March 2, 2008) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1977 who represented the Toronto riding of York East. He served in the cabinet of the government of Bill Davis.

Arthur Meen
Ontario MPP
In office
1967–1977
Preceded byHollis Beckett
Succeeded byRobert Elgie
ConstituencyYork East
Personal details
Born(1924-03-17)March 17, 1924
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 2, 2008(2008-03-02) (aged 83)
Markham, Ontario, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative
Domestic partnerShirley Anne Code
Children3
OccupationLawyer

Background

Meen was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1924.[1] He was educated as a lawyer. He worked for Gulf Oil Ltd. and was a partner in his own law firm, Fraser and Meen.[2][3] In 1951, he married Shirley Code. They raised three daughters together. He died at Woodhaven Long Term Care Markham, Ontario in 2008.[4][5]

Politics

In the 1967 provincial election he ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the Toronto riding of York East. He defeated Liberal candidate Peter Lowry by 4,402 votes.[6] In 1971 he faced a challenge by popular East York mayor True Davidson but easily defeated her by 7,544 votes.[7] He was also re-elected in 1975.[8]

In February 1974, Meen was appointed to cabinet as Minister of Revenue in the government of Bill Davis.[9] In February 1977, he was reassigned as Minister of Correctional Services.[10] In April 1977, he announced his intention to retire from politics and did not run in the June election. He said in his resignation letter that after 10 years in the legislature he was 'eager to explore fresh opportunities' while he was still in good health.[2]

Cabinet positions
Ontario Provincial Government of Bill Davis
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
John Smith Minister of Correctional Services
1977 (February–June)		 John MacBeth
Allan Grossman Minister of Revenue
1974–1977		 Margaret Scrivener

Later life

In 1980, Meen was appointed a provincial court judge by Attorney General Roy McMurtry.[3] In 1985, he sparked controversy by dismissing trespassing charges laid against protesters outside Henry Morgentaler's abortion clinic in Toronto. He said in his judgment, "There is considerable evidence that life begins at the moment of conception." Frequently praising the defendants in court he went further to say, "the clinic was operating outside the law, and as such was therefore murder." Meen felt the protesters were not guilty because they were acting to prevent a bigger crime.[11] NDP MPP Evelyn Gigantes criticized Meen's decision and called for the judge to be censured.[12] Attorney General Ian Scott refused to do so saying that Meen's decision was irrelevant to the abortion debate.[13]

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References
  1. Normandin, P.G.; Normandin, A.L. (1965). Guide Parlementaire Canadien. P.G. Normandin. ISSN 0315-6168.
  2. "'Eager to explore fresh opportunities': Meen warns party he's leaving politics". The Globe and Mail. April 6, 1977. p. 5.
  3. "Arthur Meen appointed judge". Globe and Mail. December 24, 1980. p. P2.
  4. "Social and personal notes". The Globe and Mail. May 28, 1951. p. 14.
  5. "2008 Obituary:Meen, Arthur Kenneth".
  6. Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2.
  7. "Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.
  8. "Table of vote results for all Ontario ridings". The Globe and Mail. September 19, 1975. p. C12.
  9. Dunlop, Marilyn (February 27, 1974). "The new cabinet lines up like this". The Toronto Star. p. A3.
  10. Allen, David (February 3, 1977). "Davis names Timbrell new health minister". The Toronto Star. p. 1.
  11. Cheney, Peter (September 24, 1985). "Judge blasts abortion clinic: It's 'murder'". Toronto Star. p. A3.
  12. McQuaig, Linda (September 27, 1985). "MPP assails judge's comments". Globe and Mail. p. A5.
  13. "Minister won't censure judge who called abortion murder". The Ottawa Citizen. September 25, 1985. p. A5.
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