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| Coates' main initiative was the re-introduction of separate uniforms for the naval, land and air branches of the military. ] ] had unified the ], ] and ] into an integrated ] with a single uniform in 1967. Coates and other Progressive Conservatives had long derided this decision as disrespectful of tradition. Although it provided a huge boost to military morale, particularly in the navy, the restoration was strongly opposed by the then-Chief of Defence Staff, General Gerard Thériault, on grounds that the dark green imposed in the 1960s was the only possible "distinctly Canadian" uniform colour. While Coates reintroduced distinctive uniforms for each service, he was unable to reverse the unification of the forces. | Coates' main initiative was the re-introduction of separate uniforms for the naval, land and air branches of the military. ] ] had unified the ], ] and ] into an integrated ] with a single uniform in 1967. Coates and other Progressive Conservatives had long derided this decision as disrespectful of tradition. Although it provided a huge boost to military morale, particularly in the navy, the restoration was strongly opposed by the then-Chief of Defence Staff, General Gerard Thériault, on grounds that the dark green imposed in the 1960s was the only possible "distinctly Canadian" uniform colour. While Coates reintroduced distinctive uniforms for each service, he was unable to reverse the unification of the forces. | ||
| After this promising beginning, Coates was forced to resign from Cabinet on ], ], three months after taking office, for |
After this promising beginning, Coates was forced to resign from Cabinet on ], ], three months after taking office, for breach of security after visiting 'Tiffany's a known strip bar located in Lahr ]. Mr.Coats left behind top secret ] (NATO) documents 'War Orders' that was in his possession. The bar manager of Tiffany's brought the document to Military Policer officer Sgt. Faubert's attention, who also wrote the unusal incident report. | ||
| The resignation was the first to hit the Mulroney government. Coates returned to the backbench, and did not run in the ]. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 23:27, 30 November 2008
Robert Carman Coates, PC, QC (born March 10 1928) is a former Canadian politician and Cabinet minister.
Coates was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1957 election as the Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Cumberland, Nova Scotia. Coates was a backbencher during the John Diefenbaker and Joe Clark governments. He was appointed to the Cabinet of Brian Mulroney as Defence Minister following the Tory victory in the 1984 election.
Coates' main initiative was the re-introduction of separate uniforms for the naval, land and air branches of the military. Liberal Paul Hellyer had unified the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force into an integrated Canadian Forces with a single uniform in 1967. Coates and other Progressive Conservatives had long derided this decision as disrespectful of tradition. Although it provided a huge boost to military morale, particularly in the navy, the restoration was strongly opposed by the then-Chief of Defence Staff, General Gerard Thériault, on grounds that the dark green imposed in the 1960s was the only possible "distinctly Canadian" uniform colour. While Coates reintroduced distinctive uniforms for each service, he was unable to reverse the unification of the forces.
After this promising beginning, Coates was forced to resign from Cabinet on February 12, 1978, three months after taking office, for breach of security after visiting 'Tiffany's a known strip bar located in Lahr West Germany. Mr.Coats left behind top secret North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) documents 'War Orders' that was in his possession. The bar manager of Tiffany's brought the document to Military Policer officer Sgt. Faubert's attention, who also wrote the unusal incident report.
The resignation was the first to hit the Mulroney government. Coates returned to the backbench, and did not run in the 1988 election.
External links
Template:Ministry box 24| Cabinet post (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Jean-Jacques Blais | Minister of Defence 1984–1986 |
Erik Nielsen |
| Parliament of Canada | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byRandolph Lusby, Liberal | Member of Parliament for Cumberland 1957 – 1966 |
Succeeded byriding abolished |
| Preceded byriding created | Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester North 1966 – 1976 |
Succeeded byriding abolished |
| Preceded byriding created | Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester 1976 – 1988 |
Succeeded byBill Casey, Progressive Conservative |
| Preceded byWalter Dinsdale | Dean of the House - Canadian House of Commons 1982 – 1988 |
Succeeded byHerb Gray |
| Ministers of defence | |
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| Ministers of militia and defence (1867–1923) | |
| Ministers of national defence (1923–) |
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| Associate ministers of national defence (1953–2013, 2015–) | |
| Ministers of the naval service (1910–22) | |
| World War I | |
| World War II |
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