Robert Elgie
Robert Elgie Ontario Minister of Consumer and Commercial Relations | |
|---|---|
| In office February 13, 1982 – February 8, 1985 | |
| Premier | Bill Davis |
| Preceded by | Robert C. Mitchell |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Walker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Goldwin Elgie January 22, 1929 Toronto, Ontario |
| Died | April 3, 2013 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Spouse | Nancy |
| Residence | Georgina, Ontario |
| Education | University of Western Ontario (BA) Osgoode Hall Law School (LLB) University of Ottawa (MD) |
| Occupation |
|
Robert Goldwin Elgie CM (January 22, 1929 – April 3, 2013) was a Canadian lawyer, surgeon and politician. Elgie was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1977 and sat as the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for York East until 1985. A member of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party, Elgie served in the provincial cabinet from 1978 to 1985, notably as Minister of Labour. He was a member of the Ontario Press Council from 2001, serving as chair from 2006 until his death.
Early life and career
Robert Elgie was born in Toronto, Ontario. His father, Goldwin Elgie, was also a MPP in the 1930s and 1940s.[1] After graduating from the University of Toronto Schools, he received his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Western Ontario in 1950, his law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and his medical degree from the University of Ottawa.[2] He trained as both a lawyer and neurosurgeon, and worked in the medical field.[1] Elgie taught at the medical schools of Queen's University and the University of Toronto and was chief of medical staff at Scarborough General Hospital.[1]
Political career
Elgie was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 1977 provincial election, winning an easy victory in the Toronto-area seat of York East. After a brief period in the government backbenches, he was appointed to Bill Davis's cabinet on August 18, 1978, as Minister of Labour. A Red Tory by ideology, Elgie was easily the most left-wing figure in the Davis cabinet. He was supported by the province's unions, and passed amendments to Ontario's Human Rights Code and Occupational Health and Safety regulations which were favourable to labour interests.[3] Some campus Progressive Conservative groups opposed his efforts to grant human rights officers the right to investigate and arbitrate reports of workplace discrimination.
Elgie was easily re-elected in the
Following the election, Elgie favoured an alliance with the
Later life
After leaving the WCB, he moved to
Despite serving and supporting the Tories for much of his life, Elgie's left leaning ideologies led him away from the conservative party later in his life. During the Mike Harris government of the 1990s, Elgie complained that the Ontario Progressive Conservatives had become too right-wing.[5]
Elgie was named to the Order of Canada in 2003.[1] He died on April 4, 2013, from congestive heart failure.[3][4][6]
Family
Bob Elgie married his wife Nancy in 1956, and she became an integral part of his life and career. Nancy, a psychologist by trade, served as a school trustee (and vice chair 2011-13 and 2015) in the
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Robert G. Elgie - biography". Ontario Press Council website. Ontario Press Council. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ Zena Cherry, "School marks 75th year of teaching excellence," Globe and Mail, Oct. 17, 1985, A25.
- ^ a b c d Brennan, Richard J. (April 4, 2013). "Former Tory cabinet minister Bob Elgie dead at 84". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Robert Elgie dies at 84". Georgina Advocate. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ Walker, William (July 6, 1997). "Old guard Tories fear right-wing Harris: With his policies, can the party win re-election?", Toronto Star, p. A1.
- ^ "Former MPP Robert Elgie passes away at age 84". 680 News. April 4, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
- ^ Alphonso, Caroline (17 February 2017). "York school board trustee Nancy Elgie steps down over racial-slur controversy - The Globe and Mail". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "RARC Staff | Regional Assessment and Resource Centre".
- ^ "Faculty Supervisors".
- ^ "Upper Canada College | Elgie and wife climb Kilimanjaro for Outward Bound". www.ucc.on.ca. Archived from the original on 2015-02-16.
- ^ "Peter Elgie for York—Simcoe | Elect Peter Elgie". Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ "Broadcaster - Canada's Communications Magazine - Canada's Communications Magazine". 23 September 2022.
