Labour MPP in Ontario (1919-1926) Elected to the
Legislative Assembly of Ontario as the
Labour candidate for the riding of
Kenora in the
1919 election, Heenan was re-elected in
1923. When the Legislature was not in session, he would resume driving locomotives.
Liberal MP and federal Minister of Labour (1926-1934) He was elected as the
Liberal candidate to the
House of Commons of Canada representing the riding of
Kenora—Rainy River in the
1925 federal election. He was re-elected in
1926 and
1930. From 1926 to 1930, he was the
Minister of Labour, and became known as "Peter the Peacemaker" for settling 160 labour disputes in his first three years. Heenan still found time to work as a locomotive engineer when the House was not in session. In 1934, during a debate, he exclaimed, "I wanted to be unique. I wanted to be the only man that the Conservatives have put into
overalls."
Liberal MPP and Ontario Cabinet Minister (1934-1943) Heenan resigned his federal seat, after winning a provincial seat as the
Liberal Party of Ontario candidate in the
1934 election for the riding of Kenora. He was re-elected in
1937. From 1934 to 1941, he was the Minister of Lands and Forests in the provincial government of
Mitchell Hepburn. Heenan was charged with promoting Hepburn's policies on natural resource development, including the aggressive position with respect to timber licenses in
Northern Ontario that were being held by companies that would not (or could not) cut wood on them. In that regard, in 1936 the
Forest Resources Regulation Act was passed that granted the government broad powers for mandating minimum production quotas, maximum limits in line with good forestry practice, reducing licensed acreages where they were in excess of requirements, and increasing
stumpage fees on companies "operating or carrying on business in a manner detrimental to the public interest."
Great Lakes Paper saw its holdings reduced from to , and was assessed a $500,000 penalty ($ in current terms) for refusing to participate in a minimum price agreement set up by the Ontario and Quebec governments. He also sought to exploit other uses for provincial lands. In 1941, he announced that one-seventh of all Crown land, amounting to , was being made available for lease to individuals, sportsmen's clubs and commercial camp owners. The 1938 collapse of the Lake Sulphite Pulp Company's operation at
Red Rock led to Opposition charges of ineptness in the policies of the Department of Lands and Forests. Following hearings by a legislative committee in the matter, Heenan and his deputy minister tendered their resignations. He was subsequently appointed as provincial Minister of Labour. Heenan took good care of his constituents' interests, and arranged for many improvements for Northwestern Ontario, including the construction of the
Heenan Highway (now Highway 71) to serve Kenora and Rainy River. ==Further reading==