Dan Newman (born January 16, 1963) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.
Dan Newman | |
|---|---|
| Ontario MPP | |
| In office 1999–2003 | |
| Preceded by | New riding |
| Succeeded by | Lorenzo Berardinetti |
| Constituency | Scarborough Southwest |
| In office 1995–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Steve Owens |
| Succeeded by | Marilyn Mushinski |
| Constituency | Scarborough Centre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 16, 1963 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Residence(s) | Scarborough, Ontario |
| Occupation | Newspaper manager |
Background
editNewman was educated at University College at the University of Toronto, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987. From 1985 to 1995, he worked as manager of the Toronto Sun Publishing Corporation. Many would later accuse the Sun, a center right forum, of being uncritically supportive of the Mike Harris government. Newman also served as President of the Scarborough PC Association in 1992–93.
Politics
editNewman was elected to the Ontario legislature in the provincial election of 1995, defeating Liberal Mary Anne Plimbett and incumbent New Democrat Steve Owens in the riding of Scarborough Centre.[1] The Tories won a majority government and Newman served as a backbench supporter of Mike Harris's government.
He was re-elected in the provincial election of 1999, defeating Liberal candidate Adrian Heaps and New Democrat Michael Yorke in the re-distributed riding of Scarborough Southwest.[2]
On March 3, 2000, Newman was appointed to cabinet as Minister of the Environment.[3] This appointment occurred just before a serious outbreak of E. coli poisoning in Walkerton, Ontario, in which several people died following the contamination of the town's water supply. Many blamed the Harris government's privatization of water inspection for the tragedy.
Newman, as Environment Minister, bore the brunt of this criticism and was forced to defend his government's policies before an increasingly skeptical public. In the aftermath of the tragedy, he announced a public investigation and stricter standards for municipal water treatment.
On February 8, 2001, Newman was appointed as Minister of Northern Development and Mines.[4] When Ernie Eves replaced Harris as Premier on April 15, 2002, he named Newman as Associate Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.[5]
Newman was defeated in the 2003 provincial election, losing to Liberal Lorenzo Berardinetti by almost 6,000 votes.[6]
Cabinet positions
editReferences
edit- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 8, 1995.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. June 3, 1999.
- ^ Blackwell, Tom (March 4, 2000). "Obscure MPP promoted to environment minister". The Ottawa Citizen. p. A9.
- ^ "Flaherty to be new Ontario finance chief". Sudbury Star. February 8, 2001. p. A5.
- ^ "Ont-Cabinet". Toronto, Ont: Canadian Press NewsWire. April 15, 2002.
- ^ "Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate". Elections Ontario. October 2, 2003. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29.