Margaret Marland
Encyclopedia
Margaret Marland is a politician in Ontario
, Canada
. She was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1985 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris
.
Marland worked as a bank accountant and dental assistant in private life. She began her political career as a school trustee, serving on the Peel Board of Education from 1974 to 1978. From 1978 to 1985, she served a municipal councillor in the Region of Peel
and the city of Mississauga
. She was also a member of the board of governors for the Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital, and served as governor of Sheridan College
.
Marland was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial election
, defeating her Liberal
opponent by about 1,500 votes in the traditionally Conservative riding of Mississauga South
. The Tories won a minority government
in this election, but were defeated in the house shortly thereafter; Marland held a number of critic's positions in opposition. Marland supported Larry Grossman
for the party leadership in late 1985 (Toronto Star, 6 November 1985).
In the provincial election of 1987
, she defeated Liberal candidate Claudette Mackay-Lassonde by only 599 votes to retain her seat. The Tories were reduced to only 17 seats out of 130 in this election. In early 1990, Marland was named deputy house leader of her party.
Marland was re-elected by a significant majority in the election of 1990
, in which the Tories increased their standing to 20 seats. She again held a number of critic's roles in opposition.
The Tories won a majority government in the provincial election of 1995
, and Marland was re-elected by a landslide in Mississauga South. She was not immediately appointed to cabinet by Mike Harris
, and was defeated by Al McLean
in her bid to become Speaker
of the legislature. She was subsequently named chair of the Progressive Conservative caucus in recognition of her parliamentary experience.
When McLean was forced to resign in disgrace in 1996, Marland was Harris's choice to be his replacement; the legislature, however, elected Chris Stockwell
to the position. On October 10, 1997, Marland was named a Minister without Portfolio
in Harris's government with responsibility for Children. She was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
, and was dropped from cabinet on February 7, 2001.
Although known as a strong regional representative, Marland was not a major player in the Harris government, and was not brought back into cabinet by Ernie Eves
when he replaced Harris as leader in 2002.
Marland was favoured to be re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
, but lost to Liberal Tim Peterson
by only 234 votes in a Liberal sweep of the Mississauga area.
Since her defeat, she has kept largely a low profile, but made a statement critical of Tim Peterson's automatic installation as PC candidate after he crossed the floor, saying that is was "despicable the way this has been dealt with."
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 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...
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 1985 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
.
Marland worked as a bank accountant and dental assistant in private life. She began her political career as a school trustee, serving on the Peel Board of Education from 1974 to 1978. From 1978 to 1985, she served a municipal councillor in the Region of Peel
Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario
The Regional Municipality of Peel is a regional municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada. It consists of three municipalities to the west and northwest of Toronto: the cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and the town of Caledon. The entire region is part of the Greater Toronto Area and the inner...
and the city of Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
. She was also a member of the board of governors for the Oakville-Trafalgar Hospital, and served as governor of Sheridan College
Sheridan College
Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a diploma and degree granting Canadian polytechnic institute with approximately 15,000 full time students and 35,000 continuing education students...
.
Marland was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial 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...
, defeating her 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...
opponent by about 1,500 votes in the traditionally Conservative riding of Mississauga South
Mississauga South
Mississauga South is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1979....
. The Tories won a 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, but were defeated in the house shortly thereafter; Marland held a number of critic's positions in opposition. Marland supported Larry Grossman
Larry Grossman
Lawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
for the party leadership in late 1985 (Toronto Star, 6 November 1985).
In the provincial election of 1987
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...
, she defeated Liberal candidate Claudette Mackay-Lassonde by only 599 votes to retain her seat. The Tories were reduced to only 17 seats out of 130 in this election. In early 1990, Marland was named deputy house leader of her party.
Marland was re-elected by a significant majority in the 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....
, in which the Tories increased their standing to 20 seats. She again held a number of critic's roles in opposition.
The Tories won a majority government 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 Marland was re-elected by a landslide in Mississauga South. She was not immediately appointed to cabinet by Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
, and was defeated by Al McLean
Al McLean
Allan Kenneth McLean is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and was briefly speaker of the assembly before being forced out of office due to a scandal.He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the...
in her bid to become Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the legislature. She was subsequently named chair of the Progressive Conservative caucus in recognition of her parliamentary experience.
When McLean was forced to resign in disgrace in 1996, Marland was Harris's choice to be his replacement; the legislature, however, elected Chris Stockwell
Chris Stockwell
Chris Stockwell is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 2003, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. Before entering provincial politics, he had been a...
to the position. On October 10, 1997, Marland 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...
in Harris's government with responsibility for Children. She was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and was dropped from cabinet on February 7, 2001.
Although known as a strong regional representative, Marland was not a major player in the Harris government, and was not brought back into cabinet by Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
when he replaced Harris as leader in 2002.
Marland was favoured to be re-elected in the provincial election of 2003
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, but lost to Liberal Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson
Tim Peterson is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the Greater Toronto Area riding of Mississauga South...
by only 234 votes in a Liberal sweep of the Mississauga area.
Since her defeat, she has kept largely a low profile, but made a statement critical of Tim Peterson's automatic installation as PC candidate after he crossed the floor, saying that is was "despicable the way this has been dealt with."