Ruth Grier
Encyclopedia
Ruth Anna Grier is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1985 to 1995, and served as a high-profile cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae
.
in Dublin and the University of Trinity College
at the University of Toronto
. She has a degree in Political Science
and Economics. She served as an alderman
for the City of Etobicoke
from 1969 to 1985, and was a member of numerous social service and community organizations during this period. Her husband Terry Grier
was a New Democratic Party
member of the Canadian House of Commons
from 1972 to 1974.
, defeating Liberal
Frank Sgarlata by 2,037 votes in the riding of Lakeshore (incumbent Progressive Conservative
Al Kolyn
finished third).
The Liberals won a landslide majority in the 1987 provincial election
, although Grier actually defeated Sgarlata by an increased margin (Kolyn was again third). From 1985 to 1990, she served as her party's Critic for the Environment. Grier was known as a supporter of party leader Bob Rae
within caucus during this period. She considered a leadership run in 1989 when it appeared that Rae would run to succeed Ed Broadbent
as federal NDP leader, but abandoned this when Rae announced that he would remain at the provincial level.
The NDP won a majority government
in the 1990 provincial election
and Grier was appointed as the Minister of the Environment on October 1, 1990. As Environment Minister, Grier cancelled plans to ship Toronto
's garbage to a waste site in Durham
, and vetoed a similar plan for Adams Mine
in the northern community of Kirkland Lake. The government eventually authorized the creation of three new landfill sites near Toronto, one of which was located on prime farmland. Grier also set limits on the amount of chlorine
that pulp and paper mills could dump into rivers and lakes, and rejected one particular downtown Toronto housing project on the grounds that removing industrial waste from the region was prohibitively expensive. She also introduced an Environmental Bill of Rights. Grier's decisions were accurate reflections of NDP environmental policy, and may have been justified under the circumstances, but nonetheless made several enemies in both the business community and among some NDP supporters. On February 3, 1993, she was transferred to the Ministry of Health.
As Health Minister, Grier supported the listing of generic drugs over large pharmaceutical companies. In 1993, her government made a generous settlement with the province's doctors via an Interim Agreement of Economic Arrangements. Despite strong personal objections, she also introduced user fees for some drug coverage in the summer of 1993. Her government also introduced midwifery
as a profession, targeted resources toward community health centres, created a Task Force on the Prevention of Cancer
and introduced the Trillium Drug Plan.
Notwithstanding her efforts to pursue some traditional NDP policies while in government, Grier generally supported Bob Rae in his efforts to move the party to the political centre. She was sometimes considered as one of the most important ministers in Rae's cabinet, though she actually had less influence over government decisions than Floyd Laughren
, Frances Lankin
and Dave Cooke
.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election
, and Grier finished third in her bid for re-election in Etobicoke—Lakeshore, losing to Progressive Conservative Morley Kells
. She has not sought a return to politics since this time.
.
In 2000, she received an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University
. Grier was named Visiting Environmentalist at the University of Toronto in 1997, and remains involved in environmental concerns. She is also a member of the Cancer Prevention Interest Group and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Grier endorsed Tooker Gomberg
for Mayor of Toronto in 2000.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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....
, 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 New Democratic Party 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 1995, and served as a high-profile cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
.
Background
Of Anglican background, Grier was educated at both Trinity CollegeTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in Dublin and the University of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
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...
. She has a degree in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and Economics. She served as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for the City of Etobicoke
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
from 1969 to 1985, and was a member of numerous social service and community organizations during this period. Her husband Terry Grier
Terry Grier
Terence Wyly Grier is a former Canadian politician, lecturer and university administrator.Grier graduated from the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto in 1958...
was a New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
member of 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...
from 1972 to 1974.
Politics
Grier was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1985 provincial electionOntario 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 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...
Frank Sgarlata by 2,037 votes in the riding of Lakeshore (incumbent 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...
Al Kolyn
Al Kolyn
Albert Kolyn is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1985 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party....
finished third).
The Liberals won a landslide majority in the 1987 provincial 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...
, although Grier actually defeated Sgarlata by an increased margin (Kolyn was again third). From 1985 to 1990, she served as her party's Critic for the Environment. Grier was known as a supporter of party leader Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
within caucus during this period. She considered a leadership run in 1989 when it appeared that Rae would run to succeed Ed Broadbent
Ed Broadbent
John Edward "Ed" Broadbent, is a Canadian social democratic politician and political scientist. He was leader of the federal New Democratic Party from 1975 to 1989. In the 2004 federal election, he returned to Parliament for one additional term as the Member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre.-Life...
as federal NDP leader, but abandoned this when Rae announced that he would remain at the provincial level.
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...
in the 1990 provincial election
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....
and Grier was appointed as the Minister of the Environment on October 1, 1990. As Environment Minister, Grier cancelled plans to ship Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
's garbage to a waste site in Durham
Durham, Ontario
Durham is a community in the municipality of West Grey, Grey County, Ontario, Canada. Durham is located near the base of the Bruce Peninsula.-Location:...
, and vetoed a similar plan for Adams Mine
Adams Mine
Adams Mine is an abandoned open pit iron ore mine located in the Boston Township of the District of Timiskaming, south of Kirkland Lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is situated on the Canadian Shield....
in the northern community of Kirkland Lake. The government eventually authorized the creation of three new landfill sites near Toronto, one of which was located on prime farmland. Grier also set limits on the amount of chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
that pulp and paper mills could dump into rivers and lakes, and rejected one particular downtown Toronto housing project on the grounds that removing industrial waste from the region was prohibitively expensive. She also introduced an Environmental Bill of Rights. Grier's decisions were accurate reflections of NDP environmental policy, and may have been justified under the circumstances, but nonetheless made several enemies in both the business community and among some NDP supporters. On February 3, 1993, she was transferred to the Ministry of Health.
As Health Minister, Grier supported the listing of generic drugs over large pharmaceutical companies. In 1993, her government made a generous settlement with the province's doctors via an Interim Agreement of Economic Arrangements. Despite strong personal objections, she also introduced user fees for some drug coverage in the summer of 1993. Her government also introduced midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
as a profession, targeted resources toward community health centres, created a Task Force on the Prevention of Cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
and introduced the Trillium Drug Plan.
Notwithstanding her efforts to pursue some traditional NDP policies while in government, Grier generally supported Bob Rae in his efforts to move the party to the political centre. She was sometimes considered as one of the most important ministers in Rae's cabinet, though she actually had less influence over government decisions than Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He sat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1998 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and served as Finance Minister and Deputy Premier in the government of Bob Rae.-Background:Laughren's childhood was far...
, Frances Lankin
Frances Lankin
Frances Lankin, PC is a former president and CEO of United Way Toronto, and a former Ontario MPP and cabinet minister. On November 30, 2010, Frances Lankin was appointed by the province to co-chair, along with Dr. Munir Sheikh, a comprehensive review of social assistance in Ontario...
and Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke
Dave Cooke is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was an NDP member of the provincial legislature from 1977 to 1997, and was a senior cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.-Early career:...
.
The NDP were defeated in the 1995 provincial election
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 Grier finished third in her bid for re-election in Etobicoke—Lakeshore, losing to Progressive Conservative Morley Kells
Morley Kells
Morley Kells is a longtime politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on two separate occasions, and was briefly a cabinet minister in the government of Frank Miller...
. She has not sought a return to politics since this time.
After politics
Afterwards, she was a regular panelist on Fourth Reading, on the TV Ontario program Studio 2Studio 2
Studio 2 was a daily current affairs newsmagazine on TVOntario in Ontario, Canada. The show won several Gemini Awards, and was hosted by Steve Paikin and Paula Todd , and first aired in 1994. TVOntario announced the program's termination on June 29, 2006...
.
In 2000, she received an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
. Grier was named Visiting Environmentalist at the University of Toronto in 1997, and remains involved in environmental concerns. She is also a member of the Cancer Prevention Interest Group and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Grier endorsed Tooker Gomberg
Tooker Gomberg
Tooker Gomberg was a Canadian politician and environmental activist.A native of Montreal, Quebec and a liberal-arts graduate of Hampshire College , Gomberg founded one of Canada's first curbside recycling programs in Montreal, and later moved to Edmonton, Alberta, where he created educational...
for Mayor of Toronto in 2000.