Bob Callahan
Encyclopedia
Robert V. Callahan is a politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He served as a Liberal
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1985 to 1995. From 1969 to 1985, and 1997 onwards, he has served on Brampton Town Council and Brampton City Council
.
degree from the University of Toronto
and a law degree from Osgoode Hall
at York University
. He operated a private legal practice in Toronto
from 1965 to 1966, when he joined the firm of Beatty, Bowyer & Greenslade in Brampton
. In 1969, he became a partner in the Brampton firm of Cook, Callahan & Leschied (which changed its name to Callahan & Leschied in 1981). Following the departure of Leschied in 1989, he continued in private practice.
Callahan served as an alderman
on the Brampton City Council from 1969 to 1985, representing Ward 3.
, but finished third against Progressive Conservative
Bill Davis
, the sitting Premier
, the constituency of Brampton
. He challenged Davis again in the 1981 election
, and finished a distant second.
, the Progressive Conservatives under Frank Miller
were reduced to a minority government
as Liberal support increased in much of the province. Callahan defeated PC candidate Jeff Rice in Brampton by over 4,000 votes, and became a backbench supporter of David Peterson
's Liberal government after Miller's ministry was defeated in the legislature.
, and Callahan defeated his nearest opponent by over 11,000 votes in the redistributed riding of Brampton South
. He was not appointed to cabinet
, and remained in the backbenches.
The New Democratic Party won an unexpected majority government in the 1990 provincial election
, and the Liberals were reduced to only 36 MPPs. Callahan was one of these, defeating NDP challenger John Scheer by only 424 votes. In 1992, he was appointed as his party's critic for Correctional Services.
In 1993, Callahan was a vocal opponent of the NDP government's plans to prohibit the picketing of abortion
clinics within Ontario.
In the 1995 provincial election
, the Progressive Conservative Party under Mike Harris
won a majority government based primarily on support from Greater Toronto Area
communities such as Brampton. Callahan lost his own seat to PC candidate Tony Clement
, later a provincial cabinet minister and a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada
.
's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996 (Canada NewsWire, 19 August 1996). Bob has four children, Kevin, Peter, Timothy, and Brian and four grandchildren, Andrew, Ryan, Emily and Victoria.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a Liberal
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1985 to 1995. From 1969 to 1985, and 1997 onwards, he has served on Brampton Town Council and Brampton City Council
Brampton City Council
Brampton City Council is the governing body for the City of Brampton, Ontario.It consists of the Mayor of Brampton, currently Susan Fennell, five elected regional councillors and five elected city councillors...
.
Career
Callahan has a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and a law degree from Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall
Osgoode Hall is a landmark building in downtown Toronto constructed between 1829 and 1832 in the late Georgian Palladian and Neoclassical styles. It houses the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Divisional Court of the Superior Court of Justice, and the Law Society of Upper Canada...
at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. He operated a private legal practice in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
from 1965 to 1966, when he joined the firm of Beatty, Bowyer & Greenslade in Brampton
Brampton, Ontario
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada and the seat of Peel Region. As of the 2006 census, Brampton's population stood at 433,806, making it the 11th largest city in Canada. It is also one of Canada's fastest growing municipalities, with an average...
. In 1969, he became a partner in the Brampton firm of Cook, Callahan & Leschied (which changed its name to Callahan & Leschied in 1981). Following the departure of Leschied in 1989, he continued in private practice.
Callahan served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on the Brampton City Council from 1969 to 1985, representing Ward 3.
In provincial politics
He first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial electionOntario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, but finished third against Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
, the sitting Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
, the constituency of Brampton
Brampton (electoral district)
Brampton was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997. This riding was created in 1987, from Brampton—Georgetown riding, and was abolished in 1996, when it was redistributed between Brampton Centre and Brampton...
. He challenged Davis again in the 1981 election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and finished a distant second.
1985 election
Bill Davis retired from the legislature in early 1985, and Callahan was able to win the Brampton seat on his third effort. In the provincial election of 1985Ontario general election, 1985
The Ontario general election of 1985 was held on May 2, 1985, to elect members of the 33rd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada...
, the Progressive Conservatives under Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
were reduced to a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
as Liberal support increased in much of the province. Callahan defeated PC candidate Jeff Rice in Brampton by over 4,000 votes, and became a backbench supporter of David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
's Liberal government after Miller's ministry was defeated in the legislature.
1987-1990, 1990-1995 terms
The Liberals won a landslide re-election victory in the 1987 provincial electionOntario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
, and Callahan defeated his nearest opponent by over 11,000 votes in the redistributed riding of Brampton South
Brampton South
Brampton South is a former provincial electoral district in Ontario. It was abolished in 1999 into Bramalea—Gore—Malton—Springdale, Brampton Centre, Brampton West—Mississauga. It existed for the 1987, 1990, and 1995 elections...
. He was not appointed to cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, and remained in the backbenches.
The New Democratic Party won an unexpected majority government in the 1990 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
, and the Liberals were reduced to only 36 MPPs. Callahan was one of these, defeating NDP challenger John Scheer by only 424 votes. In 1992, he was appointed as his party's critic for Correctional Services.
In 1993, Callahan was a vocal opponent of the NDP government's plans to prohibit the picketing of abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
clinics within Ontario.
In the 1995 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
, the Progressive Conservative Party under Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
won a majority government based primarily on support from Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
communities such as Brampton. Callahan lost his own seat to PC candidate Tony Clement
Tony Clement
Tony Peter Clement, PC, MP is a Canadian federal politician, President of the Treasury Board, Minister for the Federal Economic Initiative for Northern Ontario and member of the Conservative Party of Canada....
, later a provincial cabinet minister and a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Return to city council
Callahan returned to municipal politics after his defeat, and was re-elected for Ward 3 on the Brampton City Council in 1997. He is still a council member as of 2010, as the Councillor for "Wards 3 & 4". He endorsed Dalton McGuintyDalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996 (Canada NewsWire, 19 August 1996). Bob has four children, Kevin, Peter, Timothy, and Brian and four grandchildren, Andrew, Ryan, Emily and Victoria.