Fred Wilson
Encyclopedia
Fred Wilson is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1995, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae
.
Wilson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990
, defeating incumbent Liberal
Larry South
by 1,400 votes in the rural Eastern Ontario
riding of Frontenac—Addington.
Wilson initially served as a parliamentary assistant following the election, but was promoted to Minister of Government Services on April 22, 1991. On February 3, 1993, he was named a minister without portfolio
and Chief Government Whip
.
Wilson's social conservatism
made him unpopular with many NDP supporters. During the 1990 election, he responded to a questionnaire from the Lesbian and Gay Association of Kingston by writing "I personally could not advocate the gay/lesbian lifestyle as an alternative to accepted norms". He also indicated that he had no intention of meeting organized gay groups in his riding, nor combating discrimination in provincial law. The Eye Weekly
periodical wrote a critical piece on Wilson's beliefs in early 1992. Later, Inside Sedition, a periodical written by NDP staff at Queen's Park, criticized Wilson for his conservative views.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Wilson was one of twelve NDP MPPs who voted against Bill 167, the Rae government's planned extension of spousal benefits for same-sex couples in 1994. He was nonetheless retained as party whip after this.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995
, and Wilson was defeated in his own riding, finishing third against Progressive Conservative
Bill Vankoughnet
and a Liberal candidate.
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...
. He served as 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 was 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....
.
Wilson was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1990
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....
, defeating incumbent 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...
Larry South
Larry South
Laurence George South is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990....
by 1,400 votes in the rural Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
riding of Frontenac—Addington.
Wilson initially served as a parliamentary assistant following the election, but was promoted to Minister of Government Services on April 22, 1991. On February 3, 1993, he was named a minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
and Chief Government Whip
Chief Government Whip (Ontario)
The Chief Government Whip of Ontario is the member of the government responsible for ensuring that members of the governing party attend and vote in the provincial Legislature as the party leadership desires....
.
Wilson's social conservatism
Social conservatism
Social Conservatism is primarily a political, and usually morally influenced, ideology that focuses on the preservation of what are seen as traditional values. Social conservatism is a form of authoritarianism often associated with the position that the federal government should have a greater role...
made him unpopular with many NDP supporters. During the 1990 election, he responded to a questionnaire from the Lesbian and Gay Association of Kingston by writing "I personally could not advocate the gay/lesbian lifestyle as an alternative to accepted norms". He also indicated that he had no intention of meeting organized gay groups in his riding, nor combating discrimination in provincial law. The Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
periodical wrote a critical piece on Wilson's beliefs in early 1992. Later, Inside Sedition, a periodical written by NDP staff at Queen's Park, criticized Wilson for his conservative views.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Wilson was one of twelve NDP MPPs who voted against Bill 167, the Rae government's planned extension of spousal benefits for same-sex couples in 1994. He was nonetheless retained as party whip after this.
The NDP were defeated in the provincial election of 1995
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 Wilson was defeated in his own riding, finishing third against 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...
Bill Vankoughnet
Bill Vankoughnet
William John Vankoughnet is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1993, and a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 1999.Vankoughnet was educated at Loyalist...
and a Liberal candidate.