Jim Foulds
Encyclopedia
James Francis Foulds is a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1971 to 1987 as a member of the New Democratic Party.
Foulds was born in Port Arthur
(now Thunder Bay
), Ontario
, and educated at Lakehead Technical Institute and the University of British Columbia
. He has been a member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
candidate Charles Johnston by 1,369 votes in the Port Arthur
constituency. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1975 election
, and defeated PC candidate Allan Laakkonen
by 339 votes in the 1977 election
. He served as his party's Education critic from 1971 to 1977, when he became Natural Resources critic.
Foulds defeated Laakkonen again in the 1981 election
, even though the NDP lost seats under the leadership of Michael Cassidy
. The following year, he ran to succeed Cassidy as party leader in a leadership convention. Although Foulds was from the centrist wing of the NDP, he was not supported by the party's chief organizers, who convinced Bob Rae
to run for the leadership. He finished third out of three candidates, behind Rae and left-wing candidate Richard Johnston
.
Foulds was re-elected again in the 1985 election
. The Progressive Conservatives, who had governed Ontario since 1943, were reduced to a tenuous minority government
in this election, and were subsequently defeated in the legislature by an alliance of the Liberals
and NDP. The Liberals formed government under David Peterson
, and promised to implement some policies favoured by the NDP in return for support from that party in the legislature for two years. Foulds contributed to this accord by insisting that Peterson's Liberal implement travel grants for necessary medical travel for northern Ontarians. He served as Treasury critic and Northern Affairs critic from 1985 to 1987, and did not run for re-election in 1987. Instead he began teaching English at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Thunder Bay. He has also taught a course in Ontario politics at Lakehead University since 1988.
Foulds remains active with the New Democratic Party, and supported Bill Blaikie
for the federal party
's leadership in 2003. In 2005, he published an editorial in the Ontario party's newsletter, arguing that voters should reject the arguments of right-wing politicians, and recognize that tax dollars and government intervention may be beneficial for society. If governments continue to pursue right-wing policies, he argues, "we’re going to see more homelessness, more private health care, more private education, more gated communities, and more danger to your family and mine."
His son Andrew is currently a city councillor in Thunder Bay.
as the New Democratic candidate in Thunder Bay—Superior North
, the candidate in 2007 was not the former MPP, but a cousin of his with the same first name.
He appears on the RLS adverts as a poker player in the Riverland. It was widely believed to have been Nic Tubb who played the role of Jim, but this was not the case.
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 1971 to 1987 as a member of the New Democratic Party.
Foulds was born in Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
(now Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
), 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....
, and educated at Lakehead Technical Institute and the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
. He has been a member of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association or CCLA, is Canada's leading national organization devoted to the defence of civil liberties and constitutional rights, both inside and outside the courts. The organization's work focuses on constitutional litigation, law reform, advocating on civil...
.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial 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....
, 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...
candidate Charles Johnston by 1,369 votes in the Port Arthur
Port Arthur (electoral district)
Port Arthur was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario...
constituency. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1975 election
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....
, and defeated PC candidate Allan Laakkonen
Allan Laakkonen
Allan Laakkonen was city councillor for Red River Ward in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada from 2003 to 2006. He was one of the driving forces behind Thunder Bay's bid for the 1995 Nordic World Ski Championships....
by 339 votes in the 1977 election
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....
. He served as his party's Education critic from 1971 to 1977, when he became Natural Resources critic.
Foulds defeated Laakkonen again in the 1981 election
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....
, even though the NDP lost seats under the leadership of Michael Cassidy
Michael Cassidy
Michael Morris Cassidy is a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1984, and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 1988...
. The following year, he ran to succeed Cassidy as party leader in a leadership convention. Although Foulds was from the centrist wing of the NDP, he was not supported by the party's chief organizers, who convinced 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....
to run for the leadership. He finished third out of three candidates, behind Rae and left-wing candidate Richard Johnston
Richard Johnston
Richard Frank Johnston is a retired Canadian politician, educator and administrator.-Background:Johnston was educated at Trent University and worked there as an administrator and counsellor...
.
Foulds was re-elected again in the 1985 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...
. The Progressive Conservatives, who had governed Ontario since 1943, were reduced to a tenuous minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
in this election, and were subsequently defeated in the legislature by an alliance of the Liberals
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...
and NDP. The Liberals formed government under David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
, and promised to implement some policies favoured by the NDP in return for support from that party in the legislature for two years. Foulds contributed to this accord by insisting that Peterson's Liberal implement travel grants for necessary medical travel for northern Ontarians. He served as Treasury critic and Northern Affairs critic from 1985 to 1987, and did not run for re-election in 1987. Instead he began teaching English at Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Thunder Bay. He has also taught a course in Ontario politics at Lakehead University since 1988.
Foulds remains active with the New Democratic Party, and supported Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
for the federal party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
's leadership in 2003. In 2005, he published an editorial in the Ontario party's newsletter, arguing that voters should reject the arguments of right-wing politicians, and recognize that tax dollars and government intervention may be beneficial for society. If governments continue to pursue right-wing policies, he argues, "we’re going to see more homelessness, more private health care, more private education, more gated communities, and more danger to your family and mine."
His son Andrew is currently a city councillor in Thunder Bay.
2007 provincial election
Although some media initially reported that Foulds was re-entering politics in the 2007 Ontario electionOntario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
as the New Democratic candidate in Thunder Bay—Superior North
Thunder Bay—Superior North
Thunder Bay—Superior North is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1976....
, the candidate in 2007 was not the former MPP, but a cousin of his with the same first name.
He appears on the RLS adverts as a poker player in the Riverland. It was widely believed to have been Nic Tubb who played the role of Jim, but this was not the case.