David Johnson (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
David John Johnson is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was the mayor
of East York
from 1982 to 1993, a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1993 to 1999, and a senior cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris
.
Johnson has a Bachelor of Science
degree from McMaster University
, and a Master of Science
degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo
. After graduation, he worked with Imperial Oil
from 1968 to 1982.
Johnson served as an alderman in East York from 1972 to 1982, and was the mayor of the former Toronto
borough from 1982 to 1993. He also served on the Metropolitan Toronto Council from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1982 to 1993.
He was first elected to the provincial legislature in a by-election
held on April 1, 1993, following the death of NDP member Margery Ward
in the constituency of Don Mills
. Johnson defeated his Liberal
opponent, Murad Velshi
, by about 3,500 votes.
Johnson was easily re-elected in the 1995 provincial election
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government under Mike Harris. He was appointed as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet
on June 26, 1995, and was also appointed as government house leader on August 16, 1996. He developed a reputation as a calm and skilled negotiator, and generally tried to remain above the partisan bantering that frequently dominates legislative sittings. Johnson also served as interim Minister of Health from December 9, 1996 to February 21, 1997.
On October 10, 1997, Johnson replaced John Snobelen
as Ontario's Minister of Education. This occurred at a time when the Harris government was preparing for an imminent showdown with the province's teaching unions. It was generally accepted that Johnson was a much more professional negotiator than Snobelen, and that he was promoted accordingly. Almost immediately after assuming the job, Johnson was confronted with a six-week strike from the public school unions.
After the strike ended, Johnson moved forward legislative initiatives which gave the province the discretionary power to dismiss elected school boards, reduced the bargaining power of the unions, and altered funding in a manner that threatened several schools with closure. Johnson himself did not have a significant role in developing these policies, and was sometimes regarded as simply the government's liaison. Nonetheless, his position as Education Minister made him extremely unpopular with the province's public-schools unions.
Johnson's own political philosophy was considerably more centrist than that of the Harris government. He made little secret of the fact that he was a Red Tory
, and often appeared uncomfortable defending the Harris ministry's more right-wing initiatives.
In the 1999 provincial election
, and following a redistribution of seats, he surprised many observers by running in the marginal riding of Don Valley East
rather than the safer Tory seat of Don Valley West
. Some even speculated that he was giving himself a means of leaving the government after a single term. Johnson was defeated by Liberal David Caplan
, by about 2,500 votes. After the election, he was appointed chair of the Ontario Municipal Board
.
In the 2004 federal election
, Johnson ran as the Conservative
candidate in the federal Don Valley East riding. He lost to Liberal
Yasmin Ratansi
by more than 10,000 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 the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of East York
East York
East York can refer to:*East York, Pennsylvania, United States*East York, Ontario, Canada...
from 1982 to 1993, 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 1993 to 1999, and a senior cabinet minister in the government 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...
.
Johnson has a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. After graduation, he worked with Imperial Oil
Imperial Oil
Imperial Oil Limited is Canada's largest petroleum company. The company is engaged in the exploration, production and sale of crude oil and natural gas. It is controlled by US based ExxonMobil, which owns 69.6% of its stock...
from 1968 to 1982.
Johnson served as an alderman in East York from 1972 to 1982, and was the mayor of the former 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...
borough from 1982 to 1993. He also served on the Metropolitan Toronto Council from 1978 to 1980 and again from 1982 to 1993.
He was first elected to the provincial legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on April 1, 1993, following the death of NDP member Margery Ward
Margery Ward
Margery Ward was a politician in Ontario, Canada. Born in Bass River, near Bathurst, New Brunswick, she served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 until her death in 1993....
in the constituency of Don Mills
Don Mills (electoral district)
Don Mills was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 1963 provincial election, and lasted until the provincial redistribution on 1996. The riding was formally retired with the 1999 provincial election...
. Johnson defeated his 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...
opponent, Murad Velshi
Murad Velshi
Murad Velshi is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He is an Indian Muslim who lived in Kenya and migrated to Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990.-Background:...
, by about 3,500 votes.
Johnson was easily re-elected 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...
, in which the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government under Mike Harris. He was appointed as Chair of the Management Board of Cabinet
Management Board Secretariat (Ontario)
The Treasury Board/Management Board of Cabinet is a joint sub-committee of Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants who manage the fiscal plan of the government including controlling all government spending, approving labour agreements and workforce planning, manage the provincial contingency...
on June 26, 1995, and was also appointed as government house leader on August 16, 1996. He developed a reputation as a calm and skilled negotiator, and generally tried to remain above the partisan bantering that frequently dominates legislative sittings. Johnson also served as interim Minister of Health from December 9, 1996 to February 21, 1997.
On October 10, 1997, Johnson replaced John Snobelen
John Snobelen
John Snobelen is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris....
as Ontario's Minister of Education. This occurred at a time when the Harris government was preparing for an imminent showdown with the province's teaching unions. It was generally accepted that Johnson was a much more professional negotiator than Snobelen, and that he was promoted accordingly. Almost immediately after assuming the job, Johnson was confronted with a six-week strike from the public school unions.
After the strike ended, Johnson moved forward legislative initiatives which gave the province the discretionary power to dismiss elected school boards, reduced the bargaining power of the unions, and altered funding in a manner that threatened several schools with closure. Johnson himself did not have a significant role in developing these policies, and was sometimes regarded as simply the government's liaison. Nonetheless, his position as Education Minister made him extremely unpopular with the province's public-schools unions.
Johnson's own political philosophy was considerably more centrist than that of the Harris government. He made little secret of the fact that he was a Red Tory
Red Tory
A red Tory is an adherent of a particular political philosophy, tradition, and disposition in Canada somewhat similar to the High Tory tradition in the United Kingdom; it is contrasted with "blue Tory". In Canada, the phenomenon of "red toryism" has fundamentally, if not exclusively, been found in...
, and often appeared uncomfortable defending the Harris ministry's more right-wing initiatives.
In the 1999 provincial election
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....
, and following a redistribution of seats, he surprised many observers by running in the marginal riding of Don Valley East
Don Valley East (provincial electoral district)
Don Valley East is a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.It was created in 1999 from parts of Don Mills, York Mills, Oriole and Willowdale....
rather than the safer Tory seat of Don Valley West
Don Valley West
Don Valley West is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979. Its population in 2001 was 115,539....
. Some even speculated that he was giving himself a means of leaving the government after a single term. Johnson was defeated by Liberal David Caplan
David Caplan
David Caplan is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty...
, by about 2,500 votes. After the election, he was appointed chair of the Ontario Municipal Board
Ontario Municipal Board
The Ontario Municipal Board is an independent administrative board, operated as an adjudicative tribunal, in the province of Ontario, Canada...
.
In the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, Johnson ran as the Conservative
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...
candidate in the federal Don Valley East riding. He lost to Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Yasmin Ratansi
Yasmin Ratansi
Yasmin Ratansi is a Canadian politician, who represented the riding of Don Valley East in the Canadian House of Commons. She is a member of the Liberal Party. Ratansi is an Ismaili Muslim, and was the first Muslim woman elected to the Canadian House of Commons.-Before politics:Born in Dar es...
by more than 10,000 votes.
See also
- Results of the Canadian federal election, 2004