Doug Frith
Encyclopedia
Douglas Cockburn Frith, PC
(March 5, 1945 – March 21, 2009) was a Canadian
politician. He represented the riding
of Sudbury
in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1980 to 1988 as a member of the Liberal Party
. From July 1996 to January 2008, Frith served as president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, which is affiliated with the Motion Picture Association of America
. Douglas was honoured for his public service with the Queen's Jubilee Medals in 1977, 1992 and 2002 and was the recipient of the Public Service Award in 1988 for his work in the area of pension reform.
, Ontario
, graduated from Sudbury High School
and attended the University of Toronto
. Before entering politics, he was a pharmacist
in Sudbury. He was first elected as an Alderman in the City of Sudbury in 1971 at the age of 26, and later served as Chairman of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury between 1977 and 1980. Douglas Frith was honoured for his role in founding Science North
. As Chair of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury, he established a new relationship between municipal government and Inco Ltd. Stronger ties later contributed to Inco's decision to become the lead investor in the capital construction of a science centre for Northern Ontario.
to the Minister of Health
from 1980 to 1982, in the final government of Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau
. Between 1980 and 1984, Douglas chaired the Special Committee on Pension Reform. When John Turner succeeded Trudeau as Liberal
leader and Prime Minister
in 1984, he brought Frith into Cabinet as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
. The Liberals lost the 1984 election
, however, and Frith was one of just 40 Liberal MPs to be re-elected. Frith served as Chairman of the National Liberal Caucus between 1984 and 1987. Between 1984 and 1988, Douglas held the portfolio of Opposition Critic for National Defence and National Health and Welfare.
in order to accept an appointment with Hill & Knowlton
as senior vice-president. He became chairman of the Canadian subsidiary in 1995. From July 1996 to January 2008, Frith served as president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, which is affiliated with the Motion Picture Association of America
, and represents the interests of the American film industry in Canada. In April 2008, he joined Global Public Affairs as vice-chair. Frith served as Chair of the Education Foundation of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) and as the Chair of the CAFP. Frith was a member on numerous Boards, including the Toronto East General Hospital, the Canadian Council on Aboriginal Business and the Canadian Film Centre.
Frith died following a massive heart attack
in Ottawa
on March 21, 2009.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
(March 5, 1945 – March 21, 2009) was a Canadian
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...
politician. He represented the riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of Sudbury
Sudbury (electoral district)
Sudbury is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949.Its population in 2001 was 89,443. The district is one of two serving the city of Greater Sudbury, Ontario....
in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1980 to 1988 as a member of the Liberal Party
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...
. From July 1996 to January 2008, Frith served as president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, which is affiliated with the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
. Douglas was honoured for his public service with the Queen's Jubilee Medals in 1977, 1992 and 2002 and was the recipient of the Public Service Award in 1988 for his work in the area of pension reform.
Early life
Frith was born in BramptonBrampton
Brampton is the third-largest city in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.Brampton may also refer to:- Canada :* Brampton, a city in Ontario** Brampton GO Station, a station in the GO Transit network located in the city- United Kingdom :...
, 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....
, graduated from Sudbury High School
Sudbury Secondary School
Sudbury Secondary School is a high school in the downtown of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, well known for its Arts Education Program, featuring theatre arts, dance, vocal music, instrumental music, keyboard, media arts and visual art...
and attended 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...
. Before entering politics, he was a pharmacist
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
in Sudbury. He was first elected as an Alderman in the City of Sudbury in 1971 at the age of 26, and later served as Chairman of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury between 1977 and 1980. Douglas Frith was honoured for his role in founding Science North
Science North
Science North is an interactive science museum in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.The complex, which is Northern Ontario's most popular tourist attraction, consists of two snowflake-shaped buildings on the southwestern shore of Lake Ramsey, just south of the city's downtown core, as well as a...
. As Chair of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury, he established a new relationship between municipal government and Inco Ltd. Stronger ties later contributed to Inco's decision to become the lead investor in the capital construction of a science centre for Northern Ontario.
Political career
He served as parliamentary secretaryParliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to the Minister of Health
Minister of Health (Canada)
The Minister of Health is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who is responsible for overseeing the federal government's health department and the enforcing the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada Health Act, the law governing Medicare...
from 1980 to 1982, in the final government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
Pierre Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
. Between 1980 and 1984, Douglas chaired the Special Committee on Pension Reform. When John Turner succeeded Trudeau as 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...
leader and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
in 1984, he brought Frith into Cabinet as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who heads two different departments...
. The Liberals lost the 1984 election
Canadian federal election, 1984
The Canadian federal election of 1984 was held on September 4 of that year to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 33rd Parliament of Canada...
, however, and Frith was one of just 40 Liberal MPs to be re-elected. Frith served as Chairman of the National Liberal Caucus between 1984 and 1987. Between 1984 and 1988, Douglas held the portfolio of Opposition Critic for National Defence and National Health and Welfare.
After politics
He did not run in the 1988 electionCanadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
in order to accept an appointment with Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton
Hill & Knowlton is a global public relations company, headquartered in New York City, United States, with 79 offices in 44 countries. Hill & Knowlton was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1927 by John W. Hill and is today led by Chairman & CEO, Paul Taaffe...
as senior vice-president. He became chairman of the Canadian subsidiary in 1995. From July 1996 to January 2008, Frith served as president of the Canadian Motion Picture Distributors Association, which is affiliated with the Motion Picture Association of America
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. , originally the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America , was founded in 1922 and is designed to advance the business interests of its members...
, and represents the interests of the American film industry in Canada. In April 2008, he joined Global Public Affairs as vice-chair. Frith served as Chair of the Education Foundation of the Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians (CAFP) and as the Chair of the CAFP. Frith was a member on numerous Boards, including the Toronto East General Hospital, the Canadian Council on Aboriginal Business and the Canadian Film Centre.
Frith died following a massive heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
on March 21, 2009.