Ross McClellan
Encyclopedia
Ross A. McClellan is a former politician in Ontario, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1987 as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
McClellan was educated at St. Michael's College
and the school of Social Work at the University of Toronto
. A social worker, he served as vice-president of the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto in 1975-76.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
, defeating Liberal
Millie Caccia by 496 votes in the Toronto constituency of Bellwoods
. Along with Tony Lupusella
and Odoardo Di Santo
, McClellan helped to increase the NDP's popularity in the Italian areas of the city. McClellan's mother is Italian.
He was easily re-elected in the 1977 election
, and fended off more serious challenges from Liberal Walter Bardyn in 1981
and 1985
. He supported Richard Johnston
for the party leadership in 1982.
The Progressive Conservative Party
, which had governed Ontario since 1943, was reduced to a precarious minority government
in the 1985 election. McClellan, influenced in part by his mother's European socialist background, wanted the NDP to form a coalition government
with the Liberals. This proposal was rejected. McClellan was instead appointed chief negotiator for talks with both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, in which the NDP agreed to provide support to another party without actually joining government. These talks led to a two-year accord with the Liberal Party, which promised to introduce progressive reforms in return for NDP support in the legislature. Liberal leader David Peterson
was duly sworn in as Premier of Ontario
on June 26, 1985.
McClellan's career in the legislature was cut short by electoral redistribution prior to the 1987 election
. The Bellwoods constituency was eliminated, and McClellan was forced to contest the NDP nomination in Dovercourt
against Tony Lupusella
. Although McClellan won the nomination, Lupusella subsequently left the NDP to contest the constituency as a Liberal, and defeated McClellan by 907 votes. McClellan did not seek a return to the legislature after this loss.
The NDP won a majority government
under Bob Rae's leadership in 1990. McClellan served as a senior policy adviser to the Premier from 1990 to 1995. He influenced many key policy decisions, including the government's decision not to introduce public auto insurance in 1991.
McClellan has been a member of the Ontario NDP executive at various times since the Rae years and is largely credited with authoring the Ontario NDP election platforms in the 1999
and 2003 elections
. He became a senior staffer for the Ontario Federation of Labour
in the 1990s, and remained there until his retirement. In 2002, he played a leading role in resolving a strike involving Toronto municipal workers.
In 2005, McClellan spoke out against limiting union donations to political parties.
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 1975 to 1987 as a member of the New Democratic Party (NDP).
McClellan was educated at St. Michael's College
University of St. Michael's College
The University of St. Michael's College is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1852 by the Congregation of St. Basil of Annonay, France. While mainly an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences, St. Michael's retains its Roman Catholic affiliation through its postgraduate...
and the school of Social Work at 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...
. A social worker, he served as vice-president of the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto in 1975-76.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial 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....
, defeating 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...
Millie Caccia by 496 votes in the Toronto constituency of Bellwoods
Bellwoods
Bellwoods was a provincial electoral district in the west end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1924 to 1987.The riding elected Members of the Legislative Assembly to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario...
. Along with Tony Lupusella
Tony Lupusella
Antonio Lupusella is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1990...
and Odoardo Di Santo
Odoardo Di Santo
Odoardo Di Santo is a politician and administrator in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1985, as a member of the New Democratic Party ....
, McClellan helped to increase the NDP's popularity in the Italian areas of the city. McClellan's mother is Italian.
He was easily re-elected in the 1977 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....
, and fended off more serious challenges from Liberal Walter Bardyn in 1981
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....
and 1985
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...
. He supported Richard Johnston
Richard Johnston
Richard Frank Johnston is a retired Canadian politician, educator and administrator.-Background:Johnston was educated at Trent University and worked there as an administrator and counsellor...
for the party leadership in 1982.
The Progressive Conservative Party
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...
, which had governed Ontario since 1943, was reduced to a precarious 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 the 1985 election. McClellan, influenced in part by his mother's European socialist background, wanted the NDP to form a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
with the Liberals. This proposal was rejected. McClellan was instead appointed chief negotiator for talks with both the Liberals and Progressive Conservatives, in which the NDP agreed to provide support to another party without actually joining government. These talks led to a two-year accord with the Liberal Party, which promised to introduce progressive reforms in return for NDP support in the legislature. Liberal leader 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....
was duly sworn in 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...
on June 26, 1985.
McClellan's career in the legislature was cut short by electoral redistribution prior to 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...
. The Bellwoods constituency was eliminated, and McClellan was forced to contest the NDP nomination in Dovercourt
Dovercourt (electoral district)
Dovercourt was the name of a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It existed from the 1926 election to the 1999 election. When it was established, it bordered Parkdale on its west-side, York South on its north-side, and Bracondale on its east-side.Lake Ontario was its southern border...
against Tony Lupusella
Tony Lupusella
Antonio Lupusella is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1990...
. Although McClellan won the nomination, Lupusella subsequently left the NDP to contest the constituency as a Liberal, and defeated McClellan by 907 votes. McClellan did not seek a return to the legislature after this loss.
The NDP won a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
under Bob Rae's leadership in 1990. McClellan served as a senior policy adviser to the Premier from 1990 to 1995. He influenced many key policy decisions, including the government's decision not to introduce public auto insurance in 1991.
McClellan has been a member of the Ontario NDP executive at various times since the Rae years and is largely credited with authoring the Ontario NDP election platforms in the 1999
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 2003 elections
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....
. He became a senior staffer for the Ontario Federation of Labour
Ontario Federation of Labour
The Ontario Federation of Labour is a prominent federation of labour unions in the Canadian province of Ontario. The original OFL was established by the Canadian Congress of Labour in 1944...
in the 1990s, and remained there until his retirement. In 2002, he played a leading role in resolving a strike involving Toronto municipal workers.
In 2005, McClellan spoke out against limiting union donations to political parties.