Ross Whicher
Encyclopedia
Ross MacKenzie Whicher was a Canadian
politician and businessman.
Whicher served in World War II
with the 4th anti-tank regiment of the Canadian military. Following the war, he returned home and opened the Wiarton Dairy, operating it for several decades.
He served as mayor
of Wiarton, Ontario
from 1953 until 1955 when he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Bruce. In 1958, he was a candidate for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party
, but received only 39 votes and dropped off after the first ballot at the party's leadership convention.
He was re-elected to the legislature in 1959 and 1963 and served as the Liberals' finance critic. During this period, the Progressive Conservative government of John Robarts
was often to the left of the Liberals, and Whicher often criticised it for overspending.
Following his provincial career, Whicher served two terms in the Canadian House of Commons
as a Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Bruce. He won his seat in the 1968 federal election
, and was re-elected in the 1972 election
. He retired from politics when the 1974 election
was called.
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...
politician and businessman.
Whicher served 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...
with the 4th anti-tank regiment of the Canadian military. Following the war, he returned home and opened the Wiarton Dairy, operating it for several decades.
He served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Wiarton, Ontario
Wiarton, Ontario
Wiarton is a community in Bruce County, Ontario, at the western end of Colpoys Bay, an inlet off Georgian Bay, on the Bruce Peninsula. The community is part of the town of South Bruce Peninsula, Ontario....
from 1953 until 1955 when he was elected to 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 the Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Bruce. In 1958, he was a candidate for the leadership of the Ontario 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...
, but received only 39 votes and dropped off after the first ballot at the party's leadership convention.
He was re-elected to the legislature in 1959 and 1963 and served as the Liberals' finance critic. During this period, the Progressive Conservative government of John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
was often to the left of the Liberals, and Whicher often criticised it for overspending.
Following his provincial career, Whicher served two terms in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Bruce. He won his seat in the 1968 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
, and was re-elected in the 1972 election
Canadian federal election, 1972
The Canadian federal election of 1972 was held on October 30, 1972 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 29th Parliament of Canada. It resulted in a slim victory for the governing Liberal Party, which won 109 seats, compared to 107 seats for the opposition Progressive...
. He retired from politics when the 1974 election
Canadian federal election, 1974
The Canadian federal election of 1974 was held on July 8, 1974 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 30th Parliament of Canada. The governing Liberal Party won its first majority government since 1968, and gave Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau his third term...
was called.