Yvonne O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Yvonne O'Neill was a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. She was a Liberal
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1987 to 1995.
, Ontario
, and was educated at the University of Toronto
and the Ontario College of Education. She worked as a secondary school teacher from 1958 to 1964, and later served as a trustee on the Carleton Roman Catholic Separate School Board of Education.
, defeating her Progressive Conservative
opponent by more than 6000 votes in the riding of Ottawa—Rideau
. The Liberals won a majority government in this election under David Peterson
, and O'Neill served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education in 1987–88.
The Liberals were upset by the New Democratic Party
in the 1990 provincial election
, although O'Neill was comfortably re-elected in her own riding. She served as Deputy Opposition Whip
from 1990 to 1992, and held a number of official critic positions.
The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in the 1995 provincial election
, and O'Neill lost her riding to Progressive Conservative
Garry Guzzo
by 1,523 votes. She did not return to politics after this time, although she did later serve with Elections Canada as the Federal Returning Officer for the electoral district of Ottawa West Nepean. Yvonne O'Neill died from cancer on September 6, 2010.
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...
. She was 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...
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 1987 to 1995.
Early years and education
O'Neill was born in TorontoToronto
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...
, 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....
, and was educated 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...
and the Ontario College of Education. She worked as a secondary school teacher from 1958 to 1964, and later served as a trustee on the Carleton Roman Catholic Separate School Board of Education.
Political career
She was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1987 provincial electionOntario 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...
, defeating her 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...
opponent by more than 6000 votes in the riding of Ottawa—Rideau
Ottawa—Rideau
Ottawa–Rideau was a short lived provincial electoral district in Ottawa, Ontario. It elected one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. It was created in 1987 and was abolished in 1999 into Ottawa South, Nepean–Carleton, Ottawa West–Nepean and Ottawa Centre.The riding included all of...
. The Liberals won a majority government in this election under 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....
, and O'Neill served as parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Education in 1987–88.
The Liberals were upset by the New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
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....
, although O'Neill was comfortably re-elected in her own riding. She served as Deputy Opposition Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1990 to 1992, and held a number of official critic positions.
The Progressive Conservatives won a majority government 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 O'Neill lost her riding to 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...
Garry Guzzo
Garry Guzzo
Garry Guzzo is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003....
by 1,523 votes. She did not return to politics after this time, although she did later serve with Elections Canada as the Federal Returning Officer for the electoral district of Ottawa West Nepean. Yvonne O'Neill died from cancer on September 6, 2010.