Dan Newman
Encyclopedia
Dan Newman is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris
and Ernie Eves
.
at the University of Toronto
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1987. From 1985 to 1995, he worked as manager of the Toronto Sun
Publishing Corporation. Many would later accuse the Sun, a right-wing tabloid, of being uncritically supportive of the Mike Harris government. Newman also served as President of the Scarborough PC Association in 1992–93.
, defeating Liberal
Mary Anne Plimbett and incumbent New Democrat
Steve Owens in the riding of Scarborough Centre
. The Tories won a majority government in this election, although Newman was not appointed to cabinet in the parliament which followed.
He was re-elected in the provincial election of 1999
, defeating Liberal Adrian Heaps
and New Democrat Michael Yorke in the re-distributed riding of Scarborough Southwest
. Many suspect that Newman's re-election (with less than 40% of the vote) was primarily due to a vote-split among the opposition parties.
On May 3, 2000, Newman was appointed to cabinet as Minister of the Environment. This appointment occurred just before a serious outbreak of E. coli poisoning in Walkerton, Ontario
, in which several people died following the contamination of the town's water supply. Many blamed the Harris government's privatization of water inspection for the tragedy.
Newman, as Environment Minister, bore the brunt of this criticism and was forced to defend his government's policies before an increasingly skeptical public. In the aftermath of the tragedy, he announced a public investigation and stricter standards for municipal water treatment.
On February 8, 2001, Newman was transferred from the Ministry of the Environment and named Minister of Northern Development and Mines (despite the fact that his riding is located in Toronto). When Ernie Eves
replaced Harris as Premier
on April 15, 2002, he named Newman as an Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
Newman was defeated in the 2003 provincial election
, losing to Liberal Lorenzo Berardinetti
by almost 6,000 votes.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario, 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 was a 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...
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 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of 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...
and Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
.
Background
Newman was educated at University CollegeUniversity College, University of Toronto
University College is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, created in 1853 specifically as an institution of higher learning free of religious affiliation. It was the founding member of the university's modern collegiate system, and its secularism contrasted with contemporary...
at 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...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor 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 in 1987. From 1985 to 1995, he worked as manager of the Toronto Sun
Toronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
Publishing Corporation. Many would later accuse the Sun, a right-wing tabloid, of being uncritically supportive of the Mike Harris government. Newman also served as President of the Scarborough PC Association in 1992–93.
Politics
Newman was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995Ontario 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...
, defeating 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...
Mary Anne Plimbett and incumbent New Democrat
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
Steve Owens in the riding of Scarborough Centre
Scarborough Centre (provincial electoral district)
Scarborough Centre is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1963.It consists of the part of the Scarborough district of the City of Toronto bounded:...
. The Tories won a majority government in this election, although Newman was not appointed to cabinet in the parliament which followed.
He was re-elected in the provincial election of 1999
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating Liberal Adrian Heaps
Adrian Heaps
Adrian A. Heaps is a politician in Toronto, Canada. He was the member of Toronto City Council for Scarborough Southwest Ward 35 from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
and New Democrat Michael Yorke in the re-distributed riding of Scarborough Southwest
Scarborough Southwest
Scarborough Southwest is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons.On Toronto City Council, the southeast portion is represented by Gary Crawford. The northwest section is represented by Michelle Berardinetti.-Geography:It covers the...
. Many suspect that Newman's re-election (with less than 40% of the vote) was primarily due to a vote-split among the opposition parties.
On May 3, 2000, Newman was appointed to cabinet as Minister of the Environment. This appointment occurred just before a serious outbreak of E. coli poisoning in Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton, Ontario
Walkerton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within and governed by the municipality of Brockton. It is the site of Brockton's municipal offices and the county seat of Bruce County...
, in which several people died following the contamination of the town's water supply. Many blamed the Harris government's privatization of water inspection for the tragedy.
Newman, as Environment Minister, bore the brunt of this criticism and was forced to defend his government's policies before an increasingly skeptical public. In the aftermath of the tragedy, he announced a public investigation and stricter standards for municipal water treatment.
On February 8, 2001, Newman was transferred from the Ministry of the Environment and named Minister of Northern Development and Mines (despite the fact that his riding is located in Toronto). When Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
replaced Harris as Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
on April 15, 2002, he named Newman as an Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
Newman was defeated in the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, losing to Liberal Lorenzo Berardinetti
Lorenzo Berardinetti
Lorenzo Berardinetti is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is the member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Scarborough Southwest, representing the governing Ontario Liberal Party....
by almost 6,000 votes.