Leonard Braithwaite
Encyclopedia
Leonard Austin Braithwaite, CM
, O.Ont
(born October 23, 1923) is a lawyer and politician in Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1963 to 1975, as a member of the Liberal Party
. He was the first Black Canadian
to be elected to the Ontario Legislature.
Braithwaite was born in Toronto, Ontario to West Indian parents, and served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force
in World War II
. He received a Bachelor of Commerce
degree from the University of Toronto
in 1950. He then received a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School
in 1952, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
in 1958. He practiced as a barrister and solicitor, and was named a Queen's Counsel
in 1971.
His political career began in 1960, when he was elected to Ward Four the Etobicoke township board of education. Braithwaite was Ratepayer's President for Etobicoke at the time, and was elected because of demand for a high school north of Eglinton. Two years later, he was elected as an alderman
on the Etobicoke council.
Braithwaite ran for the Liberals in the 1963 provincial election
, and defeated Progressive Conservative
candidate Geoffrey Grossmith to win the constituency of Etobicoke
by 443 votes. The original declared result showed Grossmith winning by over 500 votes, and Braithwaite was only declared elected after a serious error in the vote totals was discovered. The Returning Officer claimed it was an accident, though Braithwaite later argued that it was an attempt to cheat him from office.http://www.blackhistorysociety.ca/Braitwaite-liberalsPolitics.htm
He was re-elected in 1967
and 1971
, and served as the Liberal Party Critic for Labour and Welfare. Braithwaite also helped to revoke an Ontario law that had allowed for racial segregation in public schools, an act that Braithwaite later described as his greatest accomplishment. He also called for the admission of female legislative pages in 1966.
He was defeated in the 1975 election
, losing to New Democratic Party candidate Ed Philip
by 1,256 votes. He returned to political life in 1982, when he was elected to the Etobicoke Board of Control. At the time, Etobicoke Controllers automatically served on the Metro Toronto council
as well. Braithwaite served in both positions until 1988, when he was defeated.
He attempted a return to the provincial legislature in the 1985 election
, but lost to Progressive Conservative
incumbent Nick Leluk
by 715 votes in York West
.
Braithwaite became a bencher of the Governing Council of The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1999. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in 1997, and was appointed to the Order of Ontario
in 2005.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, O.Ont
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
(born October 23, 1923) is a lawyer and politician 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 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 1963 to 1975, as a member 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...
. He was the first Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
to be elected to the Ontario Legislature.
Braithwaite was born in Toronto, Ontario to West Indian parents, and served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
in 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...
. He received a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
degree from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1950. He then received a Masters of Business Administration degree from the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
in 1952, and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in 1958. He practiced as a barrister and solicitor, and was named a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1971.
His political career began in 1960, when he was elected to Ward Four the Etobicoke township board of education. Braithwaite was Ratepayer's President for Etobicoke at the time, and was elected because of demand for a high school north of Eglinton. Two years later, he was elected as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on the Etobicoke council.
Braithwaite ran for the Liberals in the 1963 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1963
The Ontario general election of 1963 was held on September 25, 1963, to elect the 108 members of the 27th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and defeated 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 Geoffrey Grossmith to win the constituency of Etobicoke
Etobicoke (electoral district)
Etobicoke was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario...
by 443 votes. The original declared result showed Grossmith winning by over 500 votes, and Braithwaite was only declared elected after a serious error in the vote totals was discovered. The Returning Officer claimed it was an accident, though Braithwaite later argued that it was an attempt to cheat him from office.http://www.blackhistorysociety.ca/Braitwaite-liberalsPolitics.htm
He was re-elected in 1967
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....
and 1971
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 served as the Liberal Party Critic for Labour and Welfare. Braithwaite also helped to revoke an Ontario law that had allowed for racial segregation in public schools, an act that Braithwaite later described as his greatest accomplishment. He also called for the admission of female legislative pages in 1966.
He was defeated 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....
, losing to New Democratic Party candidate Ed Philip
Ed Philip
Edward Thomas Philip is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1995, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae....
by 1,256 votes. He returned to political life in 1982, when he was elected to the Etobicoke Board of Control. At the time, Etobicoke Controllers automatically served on the Metro Toronto council
Metro Council
Metro Council can refer to:*Louisville Metro Council in Louisville, Kentucky*Metropolitan Council in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, Minnesota*Metropolitan Council in Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee...
as well. Braithwaite served in both positions until 1988, when he was defeated.
He attempted a return to the provincial legislature 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...
, 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 Nick Leluk
Nick Leluk
Nicholas George Leluk was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the Progressive Conservative governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller.-Background:Leluk was born in Hillcrest, Alberta, and educated at...
by 715 votes in York West
York West
York West is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1904 and since 1917.Its population was 110,384 in 2001...
.
Braithwaite became a bencher of the Governing Council of The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1999. He was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1997, and was appointed to the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
in 2005.