Ron Van Horne
Encyclopedia
Ronald George Van Horne (born October 24, 1932 in Goderich
, Ontario
) is a former politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Liberal
from 1977 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson
.
Van Horne was educated at the University of Western Ontario
, and worked as a teacher, school administrator and school superintendent. He was the Public Utilities Commissioner in London, Ontario
from 1970 to 1976.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
Marvin Shore by about 4,500 votes in the urban constituency of London North
. He was re-elected in the 1981 election
by about the same margin. The Liberal Party served as Ontario's official opposition during this period.
Van Horne was re-elected by over 9,000 votes over his Progressive Conservative opponent in the 1985 provincial election
(Marion Boyd
of the NDP finished third). The Liberals formed a minority government
following the election, and Van Horne was appointed as a minister without portfolio
responsible for Senior Citizen's Issues on June 26, 1985.
The Liberals won a landslide majority government in the 1987 election
, and Van Horne was easily returned in London North. He was nevertheless dropped from cabinet on September 29, 1987, and resigned from the legislature on December 31 of that year.
Van Horne's son, also named Ronald, is a solicitor in Lambton County
.
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
, 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....
) is a former politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario, 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...
as a 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...
from 1977 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the government of 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....
.
Van Horne was educated at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, and worked as a teacher, school administrator and school superintendent. He was the Public Utilities Commissioner in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
from 1970 to 1976.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1977 provincial 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....
, 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...
Marvin Shore by about 4,500 votes in the urban constituency of London North
London North
London North was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was first created for the 1926 provincial election when the London riding was divided in two sections, and then eliminated prior to the 1934 provincial election when the city was re-configured as a single seat...
. He was re-elected 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....
by about the same margin. The Liberal Party served as Ontario's official opposition during this period.
Van Horne was re-elected by over 9,000 votes over his Progressive Conservative opponent 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...
(Marion Boyd
Marion Boyd
Marion Boyd is a former Canadian politician, who represented the riding of London Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1999 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party.-Background:...
of the NDP finished third). The Liberals formed 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...
following the election, and Van Horne was appointed as 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...
responsible for Senior Citizen's Issues on June 26, 1985.
The Liberals won a landslide majority government in the 1987 election
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...
, and Van Horne was easily returned in London North. He was nevertheless dropped from cabinet on September 29, 1987, and resigned from the legislature on December 31 of that year.
Van Horne's son, also named Ronald, is a solicitor in Lambton County
Lambton County, Ontario
Lambton County is a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario. The county is located in Southwestern Ontario. It is bordered on the north by Lake Huron, which flows into the St. Clair River, the county's western border and part of the Canada-United States border. To the south is Lake...
.