Arthur Meen | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1967–1977 | |
| Preceded by | Hollis Beckett |
| Succeeded by | Robert Elgie |
| Constituency | York East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1924-03-17)March 17, 1924 |
| Died | March 2, 2008(2008-03-02) (aged 83) Markham, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Domestic partner | Shirley Anne Code |
| Children | 3 |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Arthur Kenneth Meen (March 17, 1924 – March 2, 2008) was a politician inOntario, Canada. He was aProgressive Conservative member of theLegislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1977 who represented theToronto riding ofYork East. He served in the cabinet of the government ofBill Davis.
Meen was born inToronto,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 CareMarkham, Ontario in 2008.[4][5]
In the1967 provincial election he ran as theProgressive Conservative candidate in the Toronto riding ofYork East. He defeatedLiberal candidate Peter Lowry by 4,456 votes.[6] In 1971 he faced a challenge by popularEast York mayorTrue Davidson but easily defeated her by 7,890 votes.[7] He was also re-elected in 1975.[8]
In February 1974, Meen was appointed to cabinet asMinister of Revenue in the government ofBill Davis.[9] In February 1977, he was reassigned asMinister 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]
| Davis ministry,Province of Ontario (1971-1985) | ||
| 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 |
In 1980, Meen was appointed a provincial court judge byAttorney GeneralRoy McMurtry.[3] In 1985, he sparked controversy by dismissing trespassing charges laid against protesters outsideHenry Morgentaler'sabortion 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 MPPEvelyn Gigantes criticized Meen's decision and called for the judge to be censured.[12]Attorney GeneralIan Scott refused to do so saying that Meen's decision was irrelevant to the abortion debate.[13]
