Bernard Grandmaître
Encyclopedia
Bernard "Ben" C. Grandmaitre (born June 24, 1933 in Eastview
, Ontario
) is a retired politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was a Liberal
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1984 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson
.
Grandmaitre was educated as Ottawa schools, and owned a small business in Vanier, Ontario
for thirteen years. He was named a life member of the Centre francophone de Vanier, and was active in the Knights of Columbus
. Grandmaitre was an alderman
on the Vanier city council from 1969 to 1974, and served as its mayor
from 1974 to 1984.
He first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1981 provincial election
, but lost to Bob MacQuarrie
in the constituency of Carleton East
(future NDP
cabinet minister Evelyn Gigantes
finished third). On December 31, 1984, however, he was easily elected in a by-election
to succeed retiring MPP Albert Roy
in the riding of Ottawa East. This riding is one of the safest Liberal seats in the province, and Grandmaitre was returned without difficulty in the 1985 provincial election
.
The Liberals formed a minority government
after this election, and Grandmaitre was appointed as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs. In the latter capacity, he played a major role in passing the province's French Language Services Act
in 1986.
The Liberals won a landslide majority in the 1987 election
, and Grandmaitre defeated his nearest opponent by almost 15,000 votes. He appointed as Minister of Revenue on September 29, 1987, while retaining responsibility for Francophone Affairs. He was dropped from cabinet on August 2, 1989.
The Liberals were unexpectedly defeated by the NDP in the 1990 election
, although Grandmaitre again retained his seat without difficulty. He was re-elected again in the 1995 election
, and retired in 1999. He endorsed Dalton McGuinty
's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996.
There is Bernard Grandmaitre Arena operated by the City of Ottawa. There is also a French Catholic school in the Riverside South neighbourhood of Ottawa that bears his name.
Vanier, Ontario
-External links:**...
, 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....
) is a retired politician
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...
. He 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 1984 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the 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....
.
Grandmaitre was educated as Ottawa schools, and owned a small business in Vanier, Ontario
Vanier, Ontario
-External links:**...
for thirteen years. He was named a life member of the Centre francophone de Vanier, and was active in the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
. Grandmaitre was 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...
on the Vanier city council from 1969 to 1974, and served as its mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
from 1974 to 1984.
He first ran for the Ontario legislature in the 1981 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, but lost to Bob MacQuarrie
Bob MacQuarrie
Robert Waldron MacQuarrie was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1985, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party....
in the constituency of Carleton East
Carleton East
Carleton East was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 1967 election and was abolished in 1998 into Carleton—Gloucester and Ottawa—Vanier....
(future NDP
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...
cabinet minister Evelyn Gigantes
Evelyn Gigantes
Evelyn Adelaide Gigantes is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on three occasions between 1975 and 1995, and was a prominent cabinet minister in the government of Bob Rae.The daughter of Earle Sanford Peach...
finished third). On December 31, 1984, however, he was easily elected in a 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 succeed retiring MPP Albert Roy
Albert Roy
Albert J. Roy is a jurist and former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1984 as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party.-Biography:...
in the riding of Ottawa East. This riding is one of the safest Liberal seats in the province, and Grandmaitre was returned without difficulty in the 1985 provincial election
Ontario 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...
.
The Liberals formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
after this election, and Grandmaitre was appointed as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs. In the latter capacity, he played a major role in passing the province's French Language Services Act
French Language Services Act
The French Language Services Act is a law in the province of Ontario, Canada which is intended to protect the rights of Franco-Ontarians, or French-speaking people, in the province....
in 1986.
The Liberals won a landslide majority in the 1987 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...
, and Grandmaitre defeated his nearest opponent by almost 15,000 votes. He appointed as Minister of Revenue on September 29, 1987, while retaining responsibility for Francophone Affairs. He was dropped from cabinet on August 2, 1989.
The Liberals were unexpectedly defeated by the NDP in the 1990 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 Grandmaitre again retained his seat without difficulty. He was re-elected again in the 1995 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 retired in 1999. He endorsed Dalton McGuinty
Dalton McGuinty
Dalton James Patrick McGuinty, Jr., MPP is a Canadian lawyer, politician and, since October 23, 2003, the 24th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Ontario....
's bid to lead the Ontario Liberal Party in 1996.
There is Bernard Grandmaitre Arena operated by the City of Ottawa. There is also a French Catholic school in the Riverside South neighbourhood of Ottawa that bears his name.