Elaine Ziemba
Encyclopedia
Elaine Ziemba is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae
.
community. She also wrote articles on the history of canoe
ing in Canada during the 1980s. Her brother-in-law, Ed Ziemba
, represented the Toronto
riding of High Park—Swansea for the Ontario NDP from 1975 to 1981.
and Ben Grys.
, but lost to Progressive Conservative
incumbent Yuri Shymko
by 330 votes. She ran again in the 1987 provincial election
and finished third, behind Shymko and the winner, Liberal
David Fleet
.
The NDP won a majority government in the 1990 provincial election
and Ziemba was elected over Fleet by over 3,000 votes. As a prominent member of the NDP's Toronto caucus, Ziemba was appointed Minister of Citizenship
with responsibility for disabled persons and seniors.
In 1992, Ziemba's department passed an "Advocacy Act" enshrining the right of consumers to accurate information. Two years later, in a cabinet discussion on pharmaceutical imports, she spoke out against listing a generic alternative to Vasotec, on the grounds that it would cause confusion among consumers.
as an employment equity commissioner to draft legislation on the subject. One of Westmoreland-Traoré's first decisions was to reject all previous government studies on the issue; some in Ziemba's department regarded all such research as racist and flawed. The department eventually decided that four "disadvantaged groups" -- women, racial minorities, the disabled and aboriginals—would be targeted for measures reversing historical discrimination. (There was some disappointment within Ontario's gay
community when homosexuals were left off the list.)
Ziemba's department produced a discussion paper on the subject in early 1991, but it was rejected by the Rae government (one senior government official later described it as "sophomoric and polemical"). Rae generally favoured a more cautious approach than Ziemba and Westmoreland-Traoré, and the legislation was stalled for several months. One key disagreement was the issue of interference with unions—Westmoreland-Traoré wanted to overrule existing seniority rights, an approach which many in the NDP opposed. In 1992, control over the issue was quietly shifted from Ziemba and Westmoreland-Traoré to the premier's office.
Opposition to the employment equity policy was extensive. Even the centre-left Toronto Star
newspaper, which supported the NDP on some issues, was highly critical of the government's approach. Journalists such as Richard Gwyn
and Thomas Walkom described the legislation as flawed and misguided; Gwyn noted that unemployment among young males in Canada was 20.5% at the time, significantly higher than comparable numbers for young women. There is little doubt that the issue hurt the NDP's popularity among working-class white men, many of whom had previously supported the party.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election
, and Ziemba lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Derwyn Shea
by fewer than 2,000 votes. She has not stood for re-election since this time.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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....
, 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...
. She was a New Democratic Party 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 1990 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
.
Background
Ziemba was executive director of the St. Clair West Meals-on-Wheels and president of the Metro Toronto Federation of Community-based Seniors' Agencies, and was strongly involved in activities involving Toronto's PolishPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
community. She also wrote articles on the history of canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing in Canada during the 1980s. Her brother-in-law, Ed Ziemba
Ed Ziemba
Ed Ziemba was an New Democratic Party MPP in the Ontario legislature representing the provincial electoral district of High Park—Swansea.He was first elected in the 1975 provincial election succeeding retired NDP MPP Morton Shulman and was re-elected in 1977 by fewer than 800 votes before being...
, represented the 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...
riding of High Park—Swansea for the Ontario NDP from 1975 to 1981.
Political career
Ziemba ran for Toronto city council in the 1980 election in Ward 2. She placed fourth behind Tony RuprechtTony Ruprecht
Tony Ruprecht is a former Canadian politician. His first elected position was as an alderman in the old Toronto City Council, in the late 1970s. He became a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1981, and served in premier David Peterson's cabinet as minister without portfolio from...
and Ben Grys.
Provincial politics
She ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial electionOntario 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...
, but lost to 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 Yuri Shymko
Yuri Shymko
Yuri Shymko is a former politician, human rights advocate, social activist, and community leader in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1978 to 1979, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987...
by 330 votes. She ran again in the 1987 provincial 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...
and finished third, behind Shymko and the winner, 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...
David Fleet
David Fleet
David Gordon Fleet is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1990.Fleet was educated at the University of Western Ontario, Osgoode Hall Law School and York University...
.
The NDP won a majority government in 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....
and Ziemba was elected over Fleet by over 3,000 votes. As a prominent member of the NDP's Toronto caucus, Ziemba was appointed Minister of Citizenship
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (Ontario)
The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration is responsible for citizenship and immigration issues in the Canadian province of Ontario. Overall immigration and citizenship policy is still held by the federal government....
with responsibility for disabled persons and seniors.
In 1992, Ziemba's department passed an "Advocacy Act" enshrining the right of consumers to accurate information. Two years later, in a cabinet discussion on pharmaceutical imports, she spoke out against listing a generic alternative to Vasotec, on the grounds that it would cause confusion among consumers.
Policy decisions
Ziemba's most controversial ministerial decisions involved the issue of employment equity. She was given control of this file at the beginning of the Rae government's mandate, and quickly hired Juanita Westmoreland-TraoréJuanita Westmoreland-Traoré
Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré, is the first appointed black judge in the history of Quebec. She also holds the distinction of being the first black dean of a law school in Canada’s history....
as an employment equity commissioner to draft legislation on the subject. One of Westmoreland-Traoré's first decisions was to reject all previous government studies on the issue; some in Ziemba's department regarded all such research as racist and flawed. The department eventually decided that four "disadvantaged groups" -- women, racial minorities, the disabled and aboriginals—would be targeted for measures reversing historical discrimination. (There was some disappointment within Ontario's gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
community when homosexuals were left off the list.)
Ziemba's department produced a discussion paper on the subject in early 1991, but it was rejected by the Rae government (one senior government official later described it as "sophomoric and polemical"). Rae generally favoured a more cautious approach than Ziemba and Westmoreland-Traoré, and the legislation was stalled for several months. One key disagreement was the issue of interference with unions—Westmoreland-Traoré wanted to overrule existing seniority rights, an approach which many in the NDP opposed. In 1992, control over the issue was quietly shifted from Ziemba and Westmoreland-Traoré to the premier's office.
Opposition intensifies
Compromise legislation on the subject was finally passed in December 1993. The bill, which Ziemba claimed was the strongest in North America, met with resistance from both the left and right: traditional supporters of employment equity claimed it did not go far enough, while others condemned the project as racist.Opposition to the employment equity policy was extensive. Even the centre-left Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
newspaper, which supported the NDP on some issues, was highly critical of the government's approach. Journalists such as Richard Gwyn
Richard Gwyn
Richard John Philip Jermy Gwyn, is a Canadian civil servant, journalist and author.-Early life:Richard Gwyn was born on May 26, 1934, in Bury St. Edmunds, England, and was the second son to his parents Brigadier Philip Eustace Congreve Jermy-Gwyn, an Indian Army officer, and Elizabeth Edith...
and Thomas Walkom described the legislation as flawed and misguided; Gwyn noted that unemployment among young males in Canada was 20.5% at the time, significantly higher than comparable numbers for young women. There is little doubt that the issue hurt the NDP's popularity among working-class white men, many of whom had previously supported the party.
The NDP were defeated 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...
, and Ziemba lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Derwyn Shea
Derwyn Shea
Derwyn Shea is an Anglican Church of Canada clergyman and a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a municipal politician in the city of Toronto for 12 years, and sat as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 1999, representing the riding of...
by fewer than 2,000 votes. She has not stood for re-election since this time.