Doug Reycraft
Encyclopedia
Douglas Richard Reycraft (born March 9, 1943 in London
, Ontario
) is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Liberal
from 1985 to 1990.
Reycraft was educated at London Teachers' College and the University of Western Ontario
, and worked as a teacher. He also served as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve in the Village of Glencoe, and served as a warden of Middlesex County
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
incumbent Bob Eaton by 810 votes in the rural constituency of Middlesex
. The Liberal Party formed government following this election. Re-elected by a greater margin in the 1987 election
, Reycraft served as Chief Government Whip
from September 29, 1987 to August 2, 1989.
The Liberals unexpectedly lost the 1990 provincial election
to the New Democratic Party
, and Reycraft lost his riding to NDP candidate Irene Mathyssen
by 520 votes (out of 38,382 cast). He attempted a comeback in the 1995 election
, but lost to Bruce Smith of the Progressive Conservatives.
Reycraft returned to municipal politics, and was elected mayor
of Southwest Middlesex, Ontario
in 2000. He was returned in 2003 by only 26 votes over challenger Tom Jeffrey, and won again in 2006.
Reycraft has also served as chair of the London-Middlesex Board of Health. In his capacity as mayor, he has devoted significant attention to water safety issues.
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, 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....
) is a politician
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 served in 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...
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...
from 1985 to 1990.
Reycraft was educated at London Teachers' College and the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, and worked as a teacher. He also served as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve in the Village of Glencoe, and served as a warden of Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario 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...
, defeating 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...
incumbent Bob Eaton by 810 votes in the rural constituency of Middlesex
Middlesex (electoral district)
Middlesex was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario...
. The Liberal Party formed government following this election. Re-elected by a greater margin in the 1987 election
Ontario 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...
, Reycraft served as Chief Government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from September 29, 1987 to August 2, 1989.
The Liberals unexpectedly lost 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....
to the New Democratic Party
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...
, and Reycraft lost his riding to NDP candidate Irene Mathyssen
Irene Mathyssen
Irene R. Mathyssen is a Canadian politician and a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons...
by 520 votes (out of 38,382 cast). He attempted a comeback in the 1995 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...
, but lost to Bruce Smith of the Progressive Conservatives.
Reycraft returned to municipal politics, and was elected 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 Southwest Middlesex, Ontario
Southwest Middlesex, Ontario
Southwest Middlesex is a municipality in Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada.The restructured municipality of Southwest Middlesex was incorporated on January 1, 2001. This amalgamation joined the Villages of Glencoe and Wardsville with the Townships of Ekfrid and Mosa. Southwest Middlesex had a...
in 2000. He was returned in 2003 by only 26 votes over challenger Tom Jeffrey, and won again in 2006.
Reycraft has also served as chair of the London-Middlesex Board of Health. In his capacity as mayor, he has devoted significant attention to water safety issues.