Susan Eng
Encyclopedia
Susan Eng, LL.B. is a Toronto
lawyer and former chair of the Metro Toronto Police Services Board from 1991 to 1995.
Eng, the daughter of immigrants from China
, studied at Jarvis Collegiate Institute
and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School
in 1975. She was called to Ontario Bar in 1977.
In 1984 Eng was a candidate in the Ward 6 by-election
to fill John Sewell
's vacated seat on Toronto City Council
. She attracted support from the Progressive Conservative Party
's Larry Grossman
and Susan Fish
and from Liberal
Jim Coutts
. Running as an independent, she was defeated by New Democratic Party
candidate Dale Martin by a margin of 6,546 votes to 5,716. In the 1985 municipal election she supported Peter Maloney's unsuccessful candidacy in the same ward.
Eng was first appointed to the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board in 1989 by the Liberal
government of David Peterson
.
Eng’s appointment to succeed June Rowlands
as Board chair was endorsed by the Toronto Star
and Premier
Bob Rae
, as she supported Rae's police "reform" package, including mandatory reporting of each and every time an officer unholstered his gun. Street cops considered this a dangerous move that would undermine public safety. Eng's appointment was opposed by many members of the police force, North York mayor Mel Lastman
, and Scarborough mayor Joyce Trimmer
. She had a tense relationship with police chief William J. McCormack
. There was also a public disagreement with her cousin, police Sergeant Ben Eng, which included Susan skipping a banquet that honored Ben's contributions to the community, and being asked not to attend the funeral of Ben's grandmother. She served as board chair from 1991 to 1995.
Eng is currently vice-president of advocacy at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons
, as well as an activist in the Chinese
community in 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...
lawyer and former chair of the Metro Toronto Police Services Board from 1991 to 1995.
Eng, the daughter of immigrants from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, studied at Jarvis Collegiate Institute
Jarvis Collegiate Institute
Jarvis Collegiate Institute is a high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Jarvis is located on Jarvis Street. Founded in 1807 it is the second oldest high school in Ontario after the Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and the oldest high school in Toronto.-History:Jarvis Collegiate was...
and received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
in 1975. She was called to Ontario Bar in 1977.
In 1984 Eng was a candidate in the Ward 6 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
to fill John Sewell
John Sewell
John Sewell, CM is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1978 to 1980.-Background:...
's vacated seat on Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
. She attracted support from 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...
's Larry Grossman
Larry Grossman
Lawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
and Susan Fish
Susan Fish
Susan Fish is a former Canadian politician. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Bill Davis and Frank Miller....
and from 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...
Jim Coutts
Jim Coutts
James Allan Coutts, is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, and former advisor to two Prime Ministers.Born in High River, Alberta, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1960 and a law degree in 1961 from the University of Alberta and an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1968...
. Running as an independent, she was defeated by 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...
candidate Dale Martin by a margin of 6,546 votes to 5,716. In the 1985 municipal election she supported Peter Maloney's unsuccessful candidacy in the same ward.
Eng was first appointed to the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board in 1989 by the 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...
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....
.
Eng’s appointment to succeed June Rowlands
June Rowlands
June Rowlands was the 60th mayor of Toronto, Ontario, and the first woman to hold that office. She had previously been a long time city councillor, unsuccessful federal candidate, and chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission....
as Board chair was endorsed by the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
and Premier
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...
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....
, as she supported Rae's police "reform" package, including mandatory reporting of each and every time an officer unholstered his gun. Street cops considered this a dangerous move that would undermine public safety. Eng's appointment was opposed by many members of the police force, North York mayor Mel Lastman
Mel Lastman
Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
, and Scarborough mayor Joyce Trimmer
Joyce Trimmer
Joyce Trimmer was a Canadian politician. She was the first woman mayor of Scarborough, Ontario.Born in London, England, Trimmer emigrated to Toronto with her husband Douglas in 1954, where they settled on the Toronto Islands.Working as a secretary and then a business and typing teacher at...
. She had a tense relationship with police chief William J. McCormack
William J. McCormack
William J. McCormack was Chief of Police of the Metro Toronto Police from 1989 to 1995. He succeeded Jack Marks.McCormack was born in Mauritius...
. There was also a public disagreement with her cousin, police Sergeant Ben Eng, which included Susan skipping a banquet that honored Ben's contributions to the community, and being asked not to attend the funeral of Ben's grandmother. She served as board chair from 1991 to 1995.
Eng is currently vice-president of advocacy at the Canadian Association of Retired Persons
Canadian Association of Retired Persons
CARP is a Canadian organization advocating for the rights of those fifty years of age or older....
, as well as an activist in the Chinese
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
community in 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...
.