Douglas Kennedy (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Douglas Kennedy was a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1967 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
Kennedy was born in Cooksville
, Ontario, and received a Bachelor of Science
degree from Ontario Agricultural College
(later the University of Guelph
) in 1940. He enlisted with the Canadian Army following his graduation, and served until the end of World War II
in 1945. After returned, he assisted other veterans through the Veterans Land Act. Kennedy was a trustee on the South Peel Board of Education from 1955 to 1963, and a commissioner on Toronto Township Hydro from 1963 to 1967.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1967 provincial election
, defeating a candidate of the Liberal Party
by 3,618 votes in Peel South
. He was re-elected in the 1971 election
, and returned for the redistributed constituency of Mississauga South
in 1975
, 1977
and 1981
. He was a backbench supporter of the John Robarts
, William Davis
and Frank Miller administrations, and served as Chief Government Whip
for a period in the 1970s. He did not seek re-election in 1985.
Kennedy was the nephew of former Ontario premier
Thomas Laird Kennedy
, and the uncle of current legislator Ted Chudleigh
.
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 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...
from 1967 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
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...
.
Kennedy was born in Cooksville
Cooksville, Ontario
Cooksville is a neighbourhood in the city of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Dundas Street and Hurontario Street.-History:...
, Ontario, and received 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 Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
(later the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
) in 1940. He enlisted with the Canadian Army following his graduation, and served until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945. After returned, he assisted other veterans through the Veterans Land Act. Kennedy was a trustee on the South Peel Board of Education from 1955 to 1963, and a commissioner on Toronto Township Hydro from 1963 to 1967.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1967 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1967
The Ontario general election of 1967 was held on October 17, 1967, to elect the 117 members of the 28th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating a candidate of the Liberal Party
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...
by 3,618 votes in Peel South
Peel South
Peel South was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1974. It was located in the province of Ontario...
. He was re-elected in the 1971 election
Ontario general election, 1971
The Ontario general election of 1971 was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and returned for the redistributed constituency of Mississauga South
Mississauga South
Mississauga South is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979....
in 1975
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, 1977
Ontario 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....
and 1981
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....
. He was a backbench supporter of the John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
, William 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...
and Frank Miller administrations, and 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...
for a period in the 1970s. He did not seek re-election in 1985.
Kennedy was the nephew of former Ontario 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...
Thomas Laird Kennedy
Thomas Laird Kennedy
Thomas Laird Kennedy was a politician in Ontario, Canada and served briefly as the 15th Premier of Ontario. He was first elected as the Conservative member for Peel in the 1919 provincial election...
, and the uncle of current legislator Ted Chudleigh
Ted Chudleigh
Ted Chudleigh is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Halton for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario...
.