Введение
Юджин Фрэнсис "Джин" Уилан (11 июля 1924 – 19 февраля 2013) – канадский политик, заседавший в Палате общин с 1962 по 1984 год и в Сенате с 1996 по 1999 год. Он также был министром сельского хозяйства при Пьере Трюдо с 1972 по 1984 год и стал одним из самых известных политиков Канады. За свою карьеру он встречался с королевой Елизаветой II, помог Канаде опередить президента США Ричарда Никсона в "открытии" Китая и сыграл каталитическую роль в падении Железного занавеса и окончании холодной войны. В редакционной статье, опубликованной сразу после его смерти, газета Windsor Star написала:
Canadian politician
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Он был простым, ярким и колоритным. Он был фермером в культовой зеленой шляпе-стессоне. Он был прямолинейным и грубоватым. Порой он был полной противоположностью политкорректности. И, хотя никто не говорил об этом прямо, он был тем, кто сделал должность министра сельского хозяйства почти привлекательной. Возможно, потому, что служить в правительстве Пьера Трюдо само по себе было привлекательно. В любом случае, Уилан, вероятно, единственный депутат, чье пребывание на этом посту запомнилось из-за него самого. Уилан всегда был известен как убежденный либерал. Он любил хвастаться: "У консерваторов – правое крыло, у НДП – левое. А у либералов – два крыла, поэтому мы можем летать". Он получил образование в Виндзоре и Уокервилле. В 16 лет Уилан бросил школу и некоторое время работал сварщиком и инструментальщиком. В 1960 году Уилан женился на Элизабет Полингер, и у них родилась семья. Одна из дочерей пошла в политику (см. раздел "Семья" ниже). Его брат, Эдвард Чарльз Уилан, построил свою жизнь в Саскачеване. Он также занялся политикой, был избран и служил в Законодательном собрании Саскачевана. В 1959 году он безуспешно баллотировался в законодательное собрание Онтарио. В то время он обеспечивал себя как фермер и активно участвовал в фермерских вопросах и организациях. Он был директором и президентом кооператива фермеров Харроу, входил в советы директоров Объединенных кооперативов Онтарио и страховой компании кооперативов, а также был одним из основателей Совета по маркетингу пшеницы Онтарио и Федерации сельского хозяйства Онтарио. Уилан баллотировался на пост лидера либералов на съезде 1984 года, но занял последнее место. В качестве министра Уилан продвигал расширение национальных маркетинговых советов, впервые реализованное с созданием Канадской молочной комиссии в 1970 году, на яйца в 1972 году, индейку в 1974 году и курицу в 1978 году. Они были переданы под надзор Национального совета по сельскохозяйственной продукции. Для тех товаров, которые не подпадали под регулируемое снабжение, он боролся за поддержание равных условий на мировых рынках, в то время как другие страны сильно субсидировали подобные продукты. Ему удалось убедить канадское правительство увеличить поддержку фермеров путем внесения поправок в Закон о стабилизации сельского хозяйства и принятия Закона о стабилизации зерноводства на западе. В 1977 году был принят Закон об авансовых платежах за урожай, который гарантировал кредиты производителям, нуждающимся в авансовых платежах за скоропортящиеся культуры. Он открыл рынки в Советском Союзе для канадской пшеницы и принял законодательство для защиты производителей фруктов и овощей от банкротства переработчиков. Его зеленая шляпа-стессон стала хорошо известной, и Уилан воспринимался как страстный и громкий защитник сельскохозяйственного сектора, отличавшийся прямотой (что иногда доставляло ему неприятности). В ответ на жалобы по поводу стоимости продуктов питания, когда он хотел подчеркнуть небольшую прибыль среднего фермера, он сказал:
Canadian politician
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
"Стоимость автомобилей, меховых пальто, жилья, алкоголя, путешествий растет, и кто этим волнуется? Никто, потому что они не покупают эти вещи каждый день. Картофель подорожал на несколько центов, и, Боже мой, все плачут". Когда в 1983 году Михаил Горбачев, тогдашний советский министр сельского хозяйства, приехал в Канаду, Яковлев связал Горбачева с Уиланом, который организовал трехнедельный тур по Канаде для обоих советских чиновников, лично сопровождаемый Уиланом. В 2013 году Жан Кретьен вспомнил, как Уилан познакомил Горбачева с канадской жизнью во время тура в Виндзор:
Canadian politician
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
"Он приехал в Виндзор и познакомил его с жизнью канадца", – сказал Кретьен. "Он был поражен тем, как в Канаде перерабатывают продукты питания и как быстро все доступно. Позже, когда они ехали, он удивлялся, увидев перед каждым домом две машины". Группа остановилась перед одним рабочим домом. "Горбачев спросил: "Вы их знаете?" А Джин ответил: "Я их не знаю, но они знают меня". Они постучали в дверь и вошли в дом. Горбачев был очень впечатлен этим". В конце тура Уиланы устроили прощальный прием в честь Горбачева в своем доме в Амхерстбурге вечером 19 мая 1983 года. Уилан задержался с прибытием. В том, что впоследствии назвали "прогулкой, изменившей мир", Яковлев и Горбачев прогулялись по близлежащему саду, побродили среди саженцев и мимо полей кукурузы, сои и пшеницы, провели откровенную беседу и пришли к выводу, что старые порядки в СССР должны быть положены конец. По словам Яковлева, именно там родилась перестройка, 80% ее особенностей были обсуждены во время посещения фермы Уилана. В интервью спустя годы Яковлев вспоминал:
Canadian politician
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
"Сначала мы как бы присматривались друг к другу, и наши разговоры не касались серьезных вопросов. А потом, право же, история играет с человеком злые шутки, у нас было много времени вместе в качестве гостей тогдашнего либерального министра сельского хозяйства Юджина Уилана в Канаде, который сам опоздал на прием, потому что застрял с бастующими фермерами. Поэтому мы совершили долгую прогулку по ферме этого министра, и, как это часто бывает, нас обоих [Яковлева и Горбачева] внезапно захлестнуло, и мы расслабились. Я как-то, по какой-то причине, отбросил осторожность и начал рассказывать ему о том, что я считаю полной глупостью в области внешней политики, особенно о тех ракетах СС-20, которые размещались в Европе, и о многом другом. И он сделал то же самое. Мы были совершенно откровенны. Он откровенно говорил о проблемах во внутренней ситуации в России. Он говорил, что в этих условиях, условиях диктатуры и отсутствия свободы, страна просто погибнет. Так вот, в то время, во время нашего трехчасового разговора, почти как будто наши головы столкнулись, мы вылили все, что у нас на душе, и во время этого трехчасового разговора мы фактически пришли к согласию по всем нашим основным пунктам".
Canadian politician
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Eugene Francis "Gene" Whelan (11 July 1924 – 19 February 2013) was a Canadian politician, sitting in the House of Commons from 1962 to 1984, and in the Senate from 1996 to 1999. He was also Minister of Agriculture under Pierre Trudeau from 1972 to 1984, and became one of Canada's best known politicians. During his career, he would meet Queen Elizabeth II, help Canada beat U. S. president Richard Nixon to the punch in "opening up" China, and play a catalyzing role in the fall of the Iron Curtain and the end of the Cold War. In an editorial immediately following his death, the Windsor Star said:
He was folksy, flamboyant and colourful. He was the farmer in the iconic green Stetson. He was blunt and rough around the edges. At times he was the antithesis of all things politically correct. And, while nobody said it in so many words, he was also the guy who made being minister of agriculture seem almost sexy. Perhaps that's because being in a Pierre Trudeau government was sexy in itself. Regardless, Whelan is likely the only MP to hold that post and have his name remembered because of it. Whelan was always known as a die hard Liberal. He loved to boast,
The Conservatives have the right wing, the NDP have the left wing. The Liberals have two wings and that's why we can fly. He was educated in Windsor and Walkerville. At 16, Whelan quit school and worked for a time as a welder and tool and die maker
In 1960, Whelan married Elizabeth Pollinger and they had a family. One daughter went into politics (see Family below). His brother Edward Charles Whelan made his life in Saskatchewan. He also went into politics, being elected and serving in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Political career
Whelan entered municipal politics at age 21 He ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the Ontario assembly in 1959. During that time, he supported himself as a farmer and became active in farm issues and groups. He became a director and president of the Harrow Farmer's Co operative, served on the boards of United Co operatives of Ontario and the Co operators Insurance Company, and was a founding member of the Ontario Wheat Producers' Marketing Board and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Whelan ran to succeed Trudeau at the 1984 Liberal leadership convention, but came in last. As Minister, Whelan promoted the extension of national marketing boards first implemented with the creation of the Canadian Dairy Commission in 1970 to eggs in 1972, turkey in 1974, and chicken in 1978. These were placed under the supervision of the National Farm Products Council. For those commodities not under supply management, he fought to maintain a level playing field in world markets at a time when other countries strongly subsidized such products. He was successful in getting the Canadian government to increase its support for farmers, through amendments to the Agricultural Stabilization Act and the introduction of the Western Grain Stabilization Act. In 1977, the Advance Payments for Crops Act was passed, which guaranteed loans to producers requiring advance payments for perishable crops. He opened markets in the Soviet Union for Canadian wheat, and established legislation to protect fruit and vegetable growers from processor bankruptcies. His green stetson hat became well known and Whelan was seen as an ardently vociferous advocate for the agricultural sector, with a habit for plain spokenness (which occasionally got him in trouble). In response to complaints voiced over the cost of food, when he wanted to stress the average farmer's narrow profit margin, he said:
Blockquote|
The cost of cars, fur coats, housing, booze, travel goes up and who gets excited? Nobody, because they don't buy these things every day. Potatoes go up a few cents and my God, everybody's crying. When Mikhail Gorbachev, then Soviet Minister of Agriculture, came to Canada in 1983, Yakovlev connected Gorbachev with Whelan, who arranged a three week tour across Canada for both Soviet officials, accompanied personally by Whelan. In 2013 Jean Chrétien recalled Whelan introducing Gorbachev to Canadian life when the tour came to Windsor:
'He came to Windsor and introduced him to the life of a Canadian,' Chretien said. 'He was amazed at the food processing in Canada, to have all the food available so quickly. Later on, they were driving and he was marvelling to see two cars in front of every house.' The group stopped in front of one blue collar home. 'Gorbachev said, "Do you know them?" And Gene said, "I don't know them, but they know me,"' Chretien recalled. 'So they knocked on the door and went into the house. Gorbachev was very impressed by that.' At the end of that tour, the Whelans hosted a farewell reception for Gorbachev at their Amherstburg home on the evening of 19 May 1983. Whelan was delayed in arriving. In what has since been called "the walk that changed the world", Yakovlev and Gorbachev walked in a nearby orchard, strolled among saplings and past fields of corn, soy and wheat, had an earnest discussion, and resolved that the old ways in the USSR had to end. According to Yakovlev, this was where perestroika was born, with 80% of its features discussed while visiting Whelan's farm. In an interview years later, Yakovlev recalled:
At first we kind of sniffed around each other and our conversations didn't touch on serious issues. And then, verily, history plays tricks on one, we had a lot of time together as guests of then Liberal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan in Canada who, himself, was too late for the reception because he was stuck with some striking farmers somewhere. So we took a long walk on that Minister's farm and, as it often happens, both of us [Yakovlev and Gorbachev] suddenly were just kind of flooded and let go. I somehow, for some reason, threw caution to the wind and started telling him about what I considered to be utter stupidities in the area of foreign affairs, especially about those SS 20 missiles that were being stationed in Europe and a lot of other things. And he did the same thing. We were completely frank. He frankly talked about the problems in the internal situation in Russia. He was saying that under these conditions, the conditions of dictatorship and absence of freedom, the country would simply perish. So it was at that time, during our three hour conversation, almost as if our heads were knocked together, that we poured it all out and during that three hour conversation we actually came to agreement on all our main points.
Вещание
Уилан когда-то был ведущим программы «Сельскохозяйственный час» на радиостанции CFRA в Оттаве.
Whelan was once host of the Agricultural Hour on CFRA in Ottawa.
Международные назначения
С 1983 по 1985 год он занимал должность президента Всемирного совета продовольствия Организации Объединенных Наций. В 1976 году он был удостоен звания почетного полковника 21-го (Виндзорского) батальона обслуживания. В 1986 году он получил Премию Свободы от Виндзор-Детройтского международного фестиваля свободы. В 2001 году он был принят в Канадский сельскохозяйственный Зал славы. В 2001 году он был принят в Зал славы сельского хозяйства провинции Онтарио. Являлся пожизненным членом Сельскохозяйственного института Канады и Института агрологов Онтарио. В 2012 году он был награжден канадской версией Медали Бриллиантового юбилея королевы Елизаветы II. Он был награжден орденом Канадских вооруженных сил за 12 лет службы в Канадских вооруженных силах в качестве почетного полковника 21-го (Виндзорского) батальона обслуживания, что дало ему право пожизненно использовать постноминалии "CD". В 1984 году почвенная станция Вудсли Исследовательского центра теплиц и перерабатывающих культур Министерства сельского хозяйства и продовольствия Канады, расположенная в Вудсли, Онтарио, была переименована в экспериментальную ферму имени достопочтенного Юджина Ф. Уилана. В 2008 году родовое поместье Уиланов, где родился Юджин, было перевезено для сохранения в Канадский музей транспорта и историческую деревню в Эссексе, Онтарио.
He served as president of the United Nations World Food Council from 1983 to 1985. In 1976, he was made honorary colonel of the 21st (Windsor) Service Battalion. In 1986, the Freedom Award from the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival. In 2001, induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame. In 2001, induction into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. Honorary life member of the Agricultural Institute of Canada and the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. In 2012, he was awarded the Canadian version of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He was awarded the Canadian Forces' Decoration for 12 years service in the Canadian Forces as an Honorary Colonel of 21 (Windsor) Service Battalion. This gave him the Post Nominal Letters "CD" for life. In 1984, the Woodslee soil substation of Agriculture and Agri Food Canada's Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre, located at Woodslee, Ontario, was renamed as the Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Experimental Farm. In 2008, the Whelan ancestral home, where Eugene was born, was relocated for preservation to the Canadian Transportation Museum and Historical Village in Essex, Ontario.
Семья
У Уиллана и его жены Элизабет было три дочери. Сьюзан Уилан занялась политикой и была избрана в Палату общин в 1993 году в прежнем избирательном округе своего отца. В 2001 году она была назначена министром международной торговли в кабинете Кретиана. Она лишилась должности министра с приходом новой администрации, когда премьер-министром стал Пол Мартин.
Whelan and his wife Elizabeth had three daughters. Susan Whelan went into politics and was elected to the House of Commons in 1993 in her father's old riding. In 2001 she was appointed as Minister of International Trade in Chrétien's cabinet. She was dropped from Cabinet with the change of administrations when Paul Martin became prime minister.
Смерть и похороны
Он умер дома в Амхерстбурге 19 февраля 2013 года в результате осложнений, вызванных сердечным заболеванием и раком толстой кишки. Его похороны прошли 23 февраля 2013 года в церкви Святого Иоанна Крестителя в Амхерстбурге, и он был похоронен на церковном кладбище. Жан Кретьен, Герб Грей и Ремо Манчини были среди тех, кто произнес панихиды на церемонии.
He died at his home in Amherstburg on February 19, 2013, following complications from heart disease and colon cancer. His funeral was held on February 23, 2013, at St. John The Baptist Church in Amherstburg, and he was buried in the church cemetery. Jean Chrétien, Herb Gray and Remo Mancini were among the people that gave eulogies at the service.