Peter Shurman
Encyclopedia
Peter Shurman is a Progressive Conservative
Member for Thornhill
in the Ontario Legislature. Prior to his election, he was a radio talk show host on CFRB in Toronto.
, holding various positions with the company's Montreal AM and FM stations, CJAD and CJFM. He started out in technical maintenance and progressed through a number of positions including program announcing, reporting, sales, and management. He eventually became Radio Division President at age 36.
Shurman left Standard Broadcasting in 1987. His activities immediately thereafter included buying 14 radio stations for a total of $22.5 million in less than one year for third parties; undertaking an assignment to grow a minor Toronto paging company, into one of the area's largest and most important operators in only eighteen months; applying for an FM radio licence in Toronto in 1990. When the licence was not granted, he purchased an ailing telephone answering service, The Receptionists Ltd., and re-named it Universal TeleResponse Corporation. UTR became a multi-million dollar enterprise handling 7x24 communications for FP/Fortune 500
companies.
After 22 years in the radio broadcasting business, Shurman became CEO and principal shareholder in 1991 of Universal TeleResponse Corporation (UTR), a call centre in North Toronto.
In 2003, Shurman sold UTR and remained for one year as part of the sale agreement before returning to broadcasting. He was a talk radio host for CFRB
until announcing his intention to run in the 2007 Ontario provincial election
.
becoming the MPP for the riding of Thornhill
. His election provided focus for the issue surrounding public funding of faith-based schools, a major issue in Thornhill which has a large Jewish (35%) population.
Towards the end of 2008, York University (a university that is close to Shurman's political riding) was effectively shut down due to a call for a strike from CUPE 3903. Shurman became extremely involved with a student group, York Not Hostage, and was successful in bringing significant pressure to bear on the McGuinty Government. Back-to-work legislation was presented to the Legislature which was recalled from winter break to pass it and bring an end to the strike.
Shurman subsequently brought a resolution to the floor of the Ontario Legislative Assembly condemning Israeli Apartheid Week
on Ontario campuses. The resolution, debated in late February 2010, passed unanimously.
He is Opposition Critic for Economic Development & Trade; for Francophone Affairs; and he is Vice-Chair of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
In the October 2011 provincial election
, Shurman won the challenge for the Thornhill seat against former Canadian Jewish Congress
CEO Bernie Farber
.
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 for Thornhill
Thornhill (provincial electoral district)
Thornhill is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1999....
in the Ontario Legislature. Prior to his election, he was a radio talk show host on CFRB in Toronto.
Background
Shurman was born in Montreal in 1947. He attended Sir George Williams University, now Concordia University, and apprenticed in communications with Standard BroadcastingStandard Broadcasting
Slaight Communications is a Canadian radio broadcasting company. The company was first formed as Slaight Broadcasting in 1971, when owner J. Allan Slaight acquired CFGM in Richmond Hill...
, holding various positions with the company's Montreal AM and FM stations, CJAD and CJFM. He started out in technical maintenance and progressed through a number of positions including program announcing, reporting, sales, and management. He eventually became Radio Division President at age 36.
Shurman left Standard Broadcasting in 1987. His activities immediately thereafter included buying 14 radio stations for a total of $22.5 million in less than one year for third parties; undertaking an assignment to grow a minor Toronto paging company, into one of the area's largest and most important operators in only eighteen months; applying for an FM radio licence in Toronto in 1990. When the licence was not granted, he purchased an ailing telephone answering service, The Receptionists Ltd., and re-named it Universal TeleResponse Corporation. UTR became a multi-million dollar enterprise handling 7x24 communications for FP/Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
companies.
After 22 years in the radio broadcasting business, Shurman became CEO and principal shareholder in 1991 of Universal TeleResponse Corporation (UTR), a call centre in North Toronto.
In 2003, Shurman sold UTR and remained for one year as part of the sale agreement before returning to broadcasting. He was a talk radio host for CFRB
CFRB (AM)
CFRB, Newstalk 1010, is an AM radio clear-channel station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting on 1010 kHz, with a shortwave radio simulcast by CFRX-SW on 6.070 MHz. The station broadcasts a mix of talk and news throughout the day from its transmitter located in the community of...
until announcing his intention to run in the 2007 Ontario provincial election
Ontario 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...
.
Personal life
Shurman is married and lives in midtown Toronto with his wife, Carole. They have two adult sons. They have been married since 1971.Politics
In 2007, Shurman successfully campaigned as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the Ontario general election, 2007Ontario 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...
becoming the MPP for the riding of Thornhill
Thornhill (electoral district)
Thornhill is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.It covers the community of Thornhill, Ontario, which is made up of portions of Vaughan and Markham, and was created in 1996 from parts of...
. His election provided focus for the issue surrounding public funding of faith-based schools, a major issue in Thornhill which has a large Jewish (35%) population.
Towards the end of 2008, York University (a university that is close to Shurman's political riding) was effectively shut down due to a call for a strike from CUPE 3903. Shurman became extremely involved with a student group, York Not Hostage, and was successful in bringing significant pressure to bear on the McGuinty Government. Back-to-work legislation was presented to the Legislature which was recalled from winter break to pass it and bring an end to the strike.
Shurman subsequently brought a resolution to the floor of the Ontario Legislative Assembly condemning Israeli Apartheid Week
Israeli Apartheid Week
Israeli Apartheid Week is an annual series of university lectures and rallies held in February or March. According to the organisation "[t]he aim of IAW is to educate people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid system and to build Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns as part of a...
on Ontario campuses. The resolution, debated in late February 2010, passed unanimously.
He is Opposition Critic for Economic Development & Trade; for Francophone Affairs; and he is Vice-Chair of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
In the October 2011 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2011
The 40th Ontario general election was held on October 6, 2011 to elect members of the 40th Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Ontario Liberal Party will form a minority government, with the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario serving as the Official Opposition and the Ontario New...
, Shurman won the challenge for the Thornhill seat against former Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
CEO Bernie Farber
Bernie Farber
Bernie M. Farber is the former chief executive officer of the Canadian Jewish Congress and a social activist. He has testified before the Canadian courts as an expert witness on hate crime....
.