Hazen Robert Argue

Argue, Hazen Robert

Hazen Robert Argue, politician (b at Moose Jaw, Sask 6 Jan 1921; d at Regina 2 Oct 1991). The Argue family came to Ottawa from Ireland in 1821 and has had many prominent members over 9 generations, including Dr Thomas Herbert Argue, country doctor and inventor, Dr Andrew William Argue, former chancellor of University Saskatchewan, and Fletcher Argue, for whom the Arts and Science Building of University Manitoba was named. Hazen was Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1963 for Assiniboia (formerly Wood Mountain), Saskatchewan, and was Parliament's youngest member when he entered. Argue was the only opposition member from Saskatchewan to survive the DIEFENBAKER sweep in 1958. He became House leader of the 8-member CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH FEDERATION caucus that year.

In 1960 he was elected national leader of the CCF. When the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress formed the NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY in 1961, T.C. DOUGLAS easily defeated Argue for the leadership. Six months later, Argue shocked the NDP by resigning, charging that its structure gave too much power to the unions. He was re-elected to the Commons in 1962 as a Liberal but was defeated in 1963. Over the objections of some Saskatchewan Liberals of longer standing, Argue was named to the Senate in 1966. He was minister of state responsible for the CANADIAN WHEAT BOARD, 1980-82.