Hellyer, Paul, 1923- : The Honorable Paul T. Hellyer was born 6 August 1923 in Waterford, Ontario, the son of Aubrey S. Hellyer and Lulla M. Anderson. He graduated from Waterford High School and in 1941 received a diploma in aeronautical engineering from the Curtis-Wright Technical Institute of Aeronautics in Glendale, California. He served in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces from 1944 to 1946, and in 1949 received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. He married Ellen Jean Ralph and has three children: Mary Elizabeth, Peter Lawrence, and David Ralph.
Mr. Hellyer was first elected to the House of Commons at age 25 for Davenport Riding in the general election of 1949 for the Liberal Party of Canada. He was re-elected in the general election of 1953. He suffered defeat in the general election of 1957 and 1958, but was re-elected in a by-election in Trinity Riding, 15 December 1958 and held that seat until 1974. He was defeated in the general election of 1974.
Paul Hellyer was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence 9 February 1956 and became Associate Defence Minister 26 April 1957 (Rt. Hon. Louis St. Laurent government). He became Minister of National Defence 22 April 1963 to 1967 and Minister of Transport, 1967-1969, and also Minister responsible for Housing and Urban Development (CMHC). In 1968-1969, he was Chairman of the Task Force on Housing and Urban Development. He resigned from cabinet 30 April 1969 and from the Liberal Caucus 21 May 1971.
On 25 May 1971 he launched Action Canada, but did not run candidates in an election. In July 1972, Paul Hellyer joined the Progressive Conservative Party and was re-elected as a Progressive Conservative for Trinity in the 1972 general election. He was opposition spokesman on Industry, Trade and Commerce. He rejoined the Liberal Party in November 1982. Mr. Hellyer was a candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada in 1968 and a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 1976. From 1974 until 1984, he joined the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery as a syndicted columnist for the Toronto Sun. Paul Hellyer is the author of several books, including Agenda: A Plan for Action (1971), Exit Inflation (1981), Jobs for All--Capitalism on Trial (1984), Canada at the Crossroads: A Liberal Agenda for the 90's and Beyond (1990) and Damn the Torpedoes (1990). Paul Hellyer studied voice at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, and is an alumnus of the Banff School of Fine Arts. He also served as a Director of the National Ballet of Canada and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Development of the Arts.
