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{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
| name = Barney Danson
| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|country=CAN|PC|CC}}
| image =
| office1 = [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]]
| primeminister1 = [[Pierre Trudeau]]
| term_start1 = October 12, 1976
| term_end1 = June 3, 1979
| predecessor1 = [[James Armstrong Richardson]]
| successor1 = [[Allan McKinnon]]
| riding2 = [[York North]]
| parliament2 = Canadian
| predecessor2 = [[John Hollings Addison]]
| successor2 = [[John A. Gamble]]
| term_start2 = June 25, 1968
| term_end2 = May 21, 1979
| birth_name = Barnett Jerome Danson
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|02|08}}
| birth_place = [[Toronto|Toronto, Ontario]], Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|10|17|1921|02|08}}
| death_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| nationality =
| spouse =
| party = [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]]
| relations =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = {{hlist|Diplomat|Consultant|Businessman|Consul General}}
| profession =
| religion =
| awards = [[Order of Canada]]

| nickname =
| allegiance =
| branch = [[Canadian Army]]
| serviceyears = 1939-1945
| rank = [[Lieutenant-colonel (Canada)|Lieutenant-colonel]]
| unit = [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]
| commands =
| battles =
}}

'''Barnett Jerome "Barney" Danson''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|CC}} (February 8, 1921 – October 17, 2011) was a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician and [[Canadian Cabinet|Cabinet]] minister.

==Family==
Barnett Jerome "Barney" Danson was born to a [[Jewish]] family in [[Toronto]]'s [[Parkdale, Toronto|Parkdale]] neighbourhood. He joined [[The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=says |first=Gord Reed |date=2012-02-21 |title=Danson, Barnett J. |url=https://qormuseum.org/soldiers-of-the-queens-own/danson-barnett-j/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regimental Museum and Archive |language=en}}</ref> in 1939 as the [[Second World War]] broke out. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant<ref name=":0" /> and served until he was severely wounded, losing an eye, in the [[operation Overlord|Battle of Normandy]].<ref name=":0" /> His ailment created an interest in the [[Canadian National Institute for the Blind]] (CNIB) and its library for the blind and visually impaired,<ref>{{Cite web |title=CNIB Post-Secondary Scholarships & Bursaries |url=https://www.cnib.ca/en/cnib-post-secondary-scholarships-bursaries |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=CNIB |language=en}}</ref> which he maintained until his death.

He returned to Canada and joined his family's insurance business before entering the [[plastics industry]] with his own company, the Danson Corporation.<ref name=":0" /> He also served as president of the [[Society of the Plastics Industry]] of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-20 |title=Plastics Pioneer Barney Danson Dies At 90 - Canadian Plastics |url=https://www.canplastics.com/plastics-processes/plastics-pioneer-barney-danson-dies-at-90/1000638397/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.canplastics.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2002, his autobiography, ''Not Bad for a Sergeant: The Memoirs of Barney Danson'', was published.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Danson |first=Barney |url=http://archive.org/details/notbadforsergean0000dans_g9l2 |title=Not bad for a sergeant : the memoirs of Barney Danson |date=2002 |publisher=Toronto, Ont. : Dundurn Group |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-55002-404-3}}</ref>

His son, Tim Danson, is a Toronto lawyer known as a [[victim's rights]] advocate and for having represented the families of [[Paul Bernardo]]'s victims.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/tim-danson-and-victims-rights/article751948| title = Tim Danson and victims' rights - The Globe and Mail| website = [[The Globe and Mail]]| date = 25 July 2003| last1 = Salutin| first1 = Rick}}</ref>

==Politics==
Danson was first elected to the [[House of Commons of Canada]] in the [[1968 Canadian federal election|1968 general election]] as the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for the Toronto-area [[electoral district (Canada)|riding]] of [[York North]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Barney Danson Theatre {{!}} Veterans Affairs Canada |url=https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canada/barney-danson-theatre |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.veterans.gc.ca}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Search the Collection {{!}} Canadian War Museum |url=https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/archive/3175768 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.warmuseum.ca}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Danson was unsuccessful during his first attempt at politics as an [[Ontario Liberal Party]] candidate in the [[1967 Ontario general election|1967 provincial election]] in the riding of [[York Mills (electoral district)|York Mills]].

In 1970, he became [[Parliamentary Secretary]] to [[Prime Minister of Canada|Prime Minister]] [[Pierre Trudeau]], and was appointed to the Cabinet in 1974 as [[Minister of State (Canada)|Minister of State]] for urban affairs.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In 1976, he was promoted to [[Minister of National Defence (Canada)|Minister of National Defence]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> While Minister of National Defence, he was appointed the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, his regiment.

He served in that position until the defeat of the Liberal government in the [[1979 Canadian federal election|1979 general election]], in which he lost his seat.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Danson received an honorary degree (1993) from the [[Royal Military College of Canada]] in Kingston, of which he was a former chancellor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BARNETT DANSON Obituary (2011) - Toronto, ON - Toronto Star |url=https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/thestar/name/barnett-danson-obituary?id=44706808 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Legacy.com}}</ref>

As a Member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|Privy Council]] Danson was styled "[[The Honourable]]".

==Service==
Danson is the co-founder along with [[Jacques Hébert (Canadian politician)|Jacques Hébert]] of [[Katimavik]],<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Katimavik's Mission |url=https://katimavik.org/en/katimavik-mission/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=Katimavik |language=en-US}}</ref> the national youth volunteer programme. Danson served as Canada's [[Canadian Consulate-General, Boston|Consul General]] in [[Boston]] from 1984 to 1986.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Barney Danson [graphic material] |url=https://ontariojewisharchives.andornot.net/Print?q=setName%3A%22Jewish+military+portraits+series%22&p=1&ps=&sort=fondsno_sort+asc%2Cseriesno_sort+asc%2Cfileno_sort+asc%2Citemno_sort+asc&action=List |access-date=July 29, 2025 |website=Ontario Jewish Archives}}</ref>

He served on corporate and not-for-profit boards of directors such as the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO),<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Yumpu.com |title=Montreal - The Canadian Jewish News |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/16752177/montreal-the-canadian-jewish-news |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=yumpu.com |language=en}}</ref> [[Canadian Centre for Diversity|Canadian Council of Christians and Jews]],<ref name=":4" /> the [[Atlantic Council]],<ref name=":5" /> the [[Empire Club of Canada]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 1996 |title=Challenges and Choices |url=https://speeches.empireclub.org/60233/data |access-date=July 29, 2025 |website=The Empire Club}}</ref> the Ballet Opera House Corporation,<ref name=":3" /> [[de Havilland Aircraft]] of Canada,<ref name=":5" /> Algoma Central Corporation,<ref name=":5" /> General Steelwares,<ref name=":5" /> the [[Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto)|Royal Conservatory of Music]],<ref name=":5" /> and Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />

During his last years, Danson was chairman of the advisory committee of the [[Canadian War Museum]]<ref name=":5" /> in [[Ottawa]] and produced ''No Price Too High'', a six-part series broadcast on [[CBC Television]] on Canada's role in World War II.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search the Collection {{!}} Canadian War Museum |url=https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/archive/3175750 |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.warmuseum.ca}}</ref>

A theatre in the [[Canadian War Museum]] is named for him in honour of his service<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/plan-your-visit/services/barney-danson-theatre |title=Archived copy |access-date=2014-05-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715063657/http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/plan-your-visit/services/barney-danson-theatre |archive-date=2009-07-15 }}</ref> and to his four closest war-time friends killed in action; Sgt Fred B. Harris-Queen's, Lt Gerald Rayner, Lt Earl R. Stoll, and Lt Harlan David Keely.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Barney Danson Theatre and plaque
| publisher =National Defence Canada
| date =2008-04-16
| url =http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=8464
| access-date = 22 May 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140522175708/http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/nic-inm/sm-rm/mdsr-rdr-eng.asp?PID=8464
| url-status =dead
| archive-date =2014-05-22}}</ref>

==Awards==
Danson was named an Officer of France's [[Ordre National du Mérite|National Order of Merit]] (1994), and the Churchill Society's Award for "Excellence in the Cause of Parliamentary Democracy" (1995). In 1996, Danson was named an Officer of the [[Order of Canada]] and promoted to Companion in 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://archive.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=5508 | title=The Honourable Barnett J. (Barney) Danson invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada }}</ref>

In 2000, he was awarded the [[Vimy Award]]. In 2006, Danson was made an honorary Doctor of Laws by [[York University]] of Toronto.<ref>{{Cite web |last=phalfert |date=2006-06-14 |title=Risk-taking and 'attitude' extolled by honorary degree recipients |url=https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2006/06/14/risk-taking-and-attitude-extolled-by-honorary-degree-recipients/ |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=YFile |language=en-CA}}</ref>

He was sworn in as a Member of the [[Queen's Privy Council for Canada|Privy Council]] on August 8, 1974, which gave him the title "The Honourable" for life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office |first=Privy Council |date=2017-12-11 |title=King's Privy Council for Canada - Privy Council Office |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/services/king-privy-council-canada.html |access-date=2025-07-29 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref>

On March 28, 2007, he was made a Chevalier of the [[French Legion of Honour]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/trudeau-era-minister-barney-danson-dies-1.1107088| title = Trudeau-era minister Barney Danson dies {{!}} CBC News}}</ref>

* Barney Danson's Medals were in Order of Precedence

{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="silver" align="center"
|Ribbon || Description || Notes
|-
|[[File:Order of Canada (CC) ribbon bar.svg|40px]] || [[Order of Canada]] (CC) || 2008
*Companion 2008
*Officer 1996
|-
|[[File:39-45 Star BAR.svg|40px]] || [[1939-45 Star]] ||
|-
|[[File:France and Germany Star BAR.svg|40px]] || [[France and Germany Star]] ||
|-
|[[File:Defence Medal BAR.svg|40px]] || [[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]] ||
|-
|[[File:Canadian Volunteer Service Medal BAR.svg|40px]] || [[Canadian Volunteer Service Medal]] ||
*With Overseas Clasp
|-
|[[File:War Medal 39-45 BAR.svg|40px]] || [[War Medal 1939–1945]] ||
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|40px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]] || 1977
*Canadian Version of this Medal
|-
|[[File:125canada ribbon.png|40px]] || [[125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal]] || 1992
|-
|[[File:UK Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.svg|40px]] || [[Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal]] || 2002
*Canadian Version of this Medal
|-
|[[File:Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg|40px]] || [[Legion of Honour]] || 28 March 2007
*Chevalier
|-
|[[File:Ordre national du Merite Officier ribbon.svg|40px]] || [[National Order of Merit (France)|National Order of Merit]] || 1994
*Officer
|-
|}

== Archives ==
There is a Barney Danson [[fonds]] at [[Library and Archives Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barney Danson fonds, Library and Archives Canada|url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=fonandcol&id=4118677&lang=eng|access-date=2020-09-03}}</ref>
== Electoral record ==
{{1968 Canadian federal election/York North}}
{{1972 Canadian federal election/York North}}
{{1974 Canadian federal election/York North}}
{{1979 Canadian federal election/York North}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=10537}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070922020025/http://www.empireclubfoundation.com/details.asp?SpeechID=1652&FT=yes Speech given to the Empire Club of Canada]

{{CA-Ministers of Defence}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Danson, Barnett Jerome}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Toronto]]
[[Category:Canadian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Jewish Canadian politicians]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from Ontario]]
[[Category:Members of the King's Privy Council for Canada]]
[[Category:Politicians from Toronto]]
[[Category:Ministers of national defence of Canada]]
[[Category:Canadian politicians with disabilities]]
[[Category:Queen's Own Rifles of Canada soldiers]]
[[Category:Canadian Army officers]]
[[Category:Queen's Own Rifles of Canada officers]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]

Barney Danson - Revision history

imported>BadNewsBear: Added citations to address issues with validity