Heward Grafftey facts for kids

William Heward Grafftey (August 5, 1928 – February 11, 2010) was an important Canadian politician and businessman. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for many years. He was also a cabinet minister in the Canadian government.

Early Life and Education

Heward Grafftey was born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1928. His family was well-known. His aunt, Prudence Heward, was a famous artist. His father, Arthur Grafftey, was a hero from the First World War. He also led a large lumber company.

Heward Grafftey went to Mount Allison University. There, he studied political science and history. Later, he earned a law degree from McGill University. After his studies, he became a lawyer in Quebec.

First Time in Parliament

Grafftey was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in 1958. This was a big election for the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. Their leader, John Diefenbaker, won by a lot.

Grafftey became the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Brome—Missisquoi. He held this job from 1958 to 1968. From 1962 to 1963, he helped the Finance Minister, George Nowlan. Because he was not very tall, people sometimes called him "The Gnome from Brome."

The Great Flag Debate

In 1964, Canada had a big discussion about its national flag. This was known as the Great Flag Debate. Grafftey was one of the few Conservative MPs who supported the new Maple Leaf flag. He went against his party's leader, John Diefenbaker, on this issue.

Grafftey lost his seat in the 1968 election. This happened when the Liberal Party, led by Pierre Trudeau, won many seats.

Return to Politics

Heward Grafftey returned to Parliament in the 1972 election. In 1976, he tried to become the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party. He placed last in that leadership race. However, he supported Joe Clark, who eventually won.

When Joe Clark became Prime Minister in 1979, Grafftey joined his government. He served as a Minister of State for Social Programs. He was also Minister of State for Science and Technology. The government was short-lived, and Grafftey lost his seat in the 1980 election.

Later Political Efforts

Grafftey tried to get back into Parliament in the 2000 election. He faced a serious injury during his campaign. He finished third in his riding. Still, he had the second-highest number of votes for a Progressive Conservative in Quebec.

In 2002, he suggested that Joe Clark should step down as party leader. Grafftey even offered himself as a replacement. He ran again for the PC leadership in 2003. He focused on his political experience and being able to speak both English and French. He also believed he could bring many new members to the party.

Grafftey withdrew from the race before the final vote because of health reasons. Many of his supporters then backed another candidate, David Orchard.

After 2003, Grafftey spoke out against merging the Progressive Conservative Party with the Canadian Alliance. He strongly believed in the Progressive Conservative identity. In the 2006 federal election, he ran for the Progressive Canadian Party. He finished fifth in his riding.

Other Interests and Legacy

Besides politics, Heward Grafftey was active in business. He was the CEO of SafetySense. This company created safety booklets for businesses and schools.

In 2001, he wrote a book called Democracy Challenged: How to End One-Party Rule in Canada. This book shared his thoughts on Canadian politics.

Heward Grafftey had three children: Arthur Heward, Clement Tae Yong, and Leah Yoon Hee. He passed away on February 11, 2010, at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He died from problems related to Parkinson's disease.