Kelso Roberts
Encyclopedia
Archibald Kelso Roberts was a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Toronto
riding
of St. Patrick
in the 1943 Ontario election
that brought the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to power under George Drew.
Though a backbencher
, he ran to succeed Drew in the 1949 provincial PC leadership convention, coming in third place.
In 1955, Drew's successor as Premier of Ontario
, Leslie Frost
, elevated Roberts to cabinet
as Attorney-General. Early in his term, Roberts supported strengthening the Fair Accommodation Practices Act in order to require restaurants and bars to serve all customers equally, regardless of race or ethnicity. http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/llt/47/03lamber.html#FOOT118
Roberts ran for the leadership of the party again in 1961 when Frost resigned, and led on the first ballot but then fell behind John Robarts
who went on to win on the sixth ballot. Roberts remained Attorney-General until 1962 when he became Minister of Lands and Forests. Kelso had delivered a report that declared organized crime
was virtually non-existent in Ontario
, a position that was widely ridiculed and likely led to his demotion. "In Canada," he had written, "there's nothing that can be likened to the Mafia, an organization that in Italy was dismantled long ago by Mussolini." Roberts came under particular criticism when the press reported that he and officers of the Ontario Provincial Police
had communicated with organized crime syndicates in Canada and the US. Roberts resisted calls to call a Royal Commission
to investigate organized crime in Ontario and examine allegations that his ministry was covering up instances in which it deliberately or through lax procedures assisted organized crime. After the cabinet decided to give in to opposition demands that a Royal Commission be called, Roberts persisted in criticising the commission and interfering with its work until Premier Robarts decided to demote him to remove him as Attorney-General and demote him to ministry of land and forests. The Royal Commission ultimately cleared Roberts and his ministry of wrongdoing but found that organized crime was much more widespread in the province than Roberts had believed.
Roberts retired from cabinet in 1966, and retired from the legislature when the 1967 Ontario election
was called.
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 was first elected to 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 the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for 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
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of St. Patrick
St. Patrick (electoral district)
St. Patrick was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was established to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly and then Members of Provincial Parliament to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario....
in the 1943 Ontario election
Ontario general election, 1943
The Ontario general election of 1943 was held on August 4, 1943, to elect the 90 Members of the 21st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
that brought the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party to power under George Drew.
Though a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
, he ran to succeed Drew in the 1949 provincial PC leadership convention, coming in third place.
In 1955, Drew's successor as Premier of Ontario
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...
, Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
, elevated Roberts to cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
as Attorney-General. Early in his term, Roberts supported strengthening the Fair Accommodation Practices Act in order to require restaurants and bars to serve all customers equally, regardless of race or ethnicity. http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/llt/47/03lamber.html#FOOT118
Roberts ran for the leadership of the party again in 1961 when Frost resigned, and led on the first ballot but then fell behind John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
who went on to win on the sixth ballot. Roberts remained Attorney-General until 1962 when he became Minister of Lands and Forests. Kelso had delivered a report that declared organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
was virtually non-existent 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....
, a position that was widely ridiculed and likely led to his demotion. "In Canada," he had written, "there's nothing that can be likened to the Mafia, an organization that in Italy was dismantled long ago by Mussolini." Roberts came under particular criticism when the press reported that he and officers of the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
had communicated with organized crime syndicates in Canada and the US. Roberts resisted calls to call a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
to investigate organized crime in Ontario and examine allegations that his ministry was covering up instances in which it deliberately or through lax procedures assisted organized crime. After the cabinet decided to give in to opposition demands that a Royal Commission be called, Roberts persisted in criticising the commission and interfering with its work until Premier Robarts decided to demote him to remove him as Attorney-General and demote him to ministry of land and forests. The Royal Commission ultimately cleared Roberts and his ministry of wrongdoing but found that organized crime was much more widespread in the province than Roberts had believed.
Roberts retired from cabinet in 1966, and retired from the legislature when the 1967 Ontario 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....
was called.