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Douglas Ross (Canadian politician)

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Douglas Ross
Member of Parliament
for St. Paul's
In office
1935–1949
Preceded byfirst member
Succeeded byJames Rooney
Personal details
Born(1883-12-15)15 December 1883
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died24 August 1961(1961-08-24) (aged 77)
Political partyConservative
National Government
Progressive Conservative
ProfessionBusinessman

Douglas Gooderham Ross (15 December 1883 – 24 August 1961) was a Canadian politician and businessman. Ross represented the riding of St. Paul's from 1935 to 1949. He was a member of the Conservatives, and later the Progressive Conservatives.[1]

Ross's bête noires during his parliamentary career were Liberal Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and government bureaucracy - all of which he railed against as an MP.[1]

He accused King of encouraging Hitler by turning down a British request in 1937 to train 25,000 airmen a year, and subsequently criticized the government for its increasing economic reliance on trade with the "unstable" United States rather than the "stable" United Kingdom.[2] He later implied that King was responsible for the war for not having articulated a clear policy within the British Commonwealth.[1]

Once World War II began, Ross urged the registration of all men and women in the country as a war measure in order to mobilize all Canadian resources for the war effort and to curb espionage.[1] After the war, he advocated universal voluntary military training for high school and university students.[citation needed]

Ross criticized Max Ferguson's popular satirical Rawhide show as "meaningless ravings and tripe" and as an insult to the intelligence of Canadians.[1]

In his professional life, Ross was vice-president of the Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Douglas G. Ross: Foe of Bureaucracy Was MP for 15 Years". The Globe and Mail. 25 August 1961. p. 28.
  2. ^ "Trade Pact Now Looms Vote Issue". The Globe and Mail. 25 February 1939. p. 1.
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