Bill Grimmett
Encyclopedia
William Lawrence Grimmett (born October 4, 1956 in Aurora
, Ontario
) is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1995 to 1999.
Grimmett has a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Trent University
(1978) and a law degree from the University of Toronto
(1981). He worked as a lawyer in Port Carling
from 1983 to 1995, and was a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education from 1991 to 1995.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election
, outpolling Liberal
Ken Black
and incumbent New Democrat Dan Waters
by about 10,000 votes in the riding of Muskoka–Georgian Bay
. He served as a backbench supporter of Mike Harris
's government for the next four years.
In the late 1990s, Grimmett (twice) introduced legislation that would suspend the driver’s licences of people convicted of impaired boating. The legislation enjoyed all-party support and was passed unanimously at both first and second reading. However, the bill was never called for third and final reading by the government and it died on the Order Paper. In the years after Grimmett left Queen's Park this same legislation would be introduced again and ultimately passed into law.
Beginning in late 1995, Grimmett and fellow MPP Bob Wood led the Government Task Force on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, examining the role and viability of these bodies in Ontario. The Task Force delivered a series of recommendations that were to form the basis for future agency reform in the province.
Grimmett also worked on the early development of ServiceOntario. This initiative, which has since been implemented, was designed to improve customer service in the Ontario Government and make it easier for the public to access information, services and resources.
In 1997, Grimmett oversaw public consultations on reforms to Ontario's Pension Benefits Act.
In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of provincial ridings from 130 to 103. This change meant that a number of sitting MPPs had to compete against one another for re-nomination and re-election.Deputy Premier Ernie Eves' Parry Sound riding and Grimmett's riding were merged into the new Parry Sound/Muskoka riding. Grimmett did not oppose Eves, and returned to his Port Carling law practice after the 1999 provincial election, having chaired Ernie Eves' successful campaign in the newly-configured Parry Sound-Muskoka riding.
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
, 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 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 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...
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 1995 to 1999.
Grimmett has a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Trent University
Trent University
Trent University is a liberal arts and science-oriented institution located along the Otonabee River in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.The enabling legislation is the Trent University Act, 1962-63. The University was founded through the efforts of a citizens' committee interested in creating a...
(1978) and a law degree from 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...
(1981). He worked as a lawyer in Port Carling
Port Carling, Ontario
Port Carling is an unincorporated community in the Township of Muskoka Lakes in the Canadian province of Ontario.It has been the municipal seat of the township since 1971...
from 1983 to 1995, and was a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education from 1991 to 1995.
He was elected to the Ontario legislature 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...
, outpolling 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...
Ken Black
Ken Black
Kenneth Black is a former politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson....
and incumbent New Democrat Dan Waters
Dan Waters
Daniel Waters is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995.-Background:...
by about 10,000 votes in the riding of Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Muskoka–Georgian Bay
Muskoka-Georgian Bay is a historical provincial electoral division in Ontario, Canada, which was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario between 1987 and 1999. As its name implies, the division was located in the Muskoka region of central Ontario...
. He served as a backbench supporter of Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
's government for the next four years.
In the late 1990s, Grimmett (twice) introduced legislation that would suspend the driver’s licences of people convicted of impaired boating. The legislation enjoyed all-party support and was passed unanimously at both first and second reading. However, the bill was never called for third and final reading by the government and it died on the Order Paper. In the years after Grimmett left Queen's Park this same legislation would be introduced again and ultimately passed into law.
Beginning in late 1995, Grimmett and fellow MPP Bob Wood led the Government Task Force on Agencies, Boards and Commissions, examining the role and viability of these bodies in Ontario. The Task Force delivered a series of recommendations that were to form the basis for future agency reform in the province.
Grimmett also worked on the early development of ServiceOntario. This initiative, which has since been implemented, was designed to improve customer service in the Ontario Government and make it easier for the public to access information, services and resources.
In 1997, Grimmett oversaw public consultations on reforms to Ontario's Pension Benefits Act.
In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of provincial ridings from 130 to 103. This change meant that a number of sitting MPPs had to compete against one another for re-nomination and re-election.Deputy Premier Ernie Eves' Parry Sound riding and Grimmett's riding were merged into the new Parry Sound/Muskoka riding. Grimmett did not oppose Eves, and returned to his Port Carling law practice after the 1999 provincial election, having chaired Ernie Eves' successful campaign in the newly-configured Parry Sound-Muskoka riding.