Brad Ward
Encyclopedia
Bradley Richard Ward is a former politician
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1995 as a New Democrat and was a minister in Bob Rae
's government from 1993 to 1995.
employee before entering political life. Active in the labour movement, he served on the Brantford and District Labour Council
and was named Labour Citizen of the Year in 1989. He ran for the Brantford City Council
in 1982
on a Labour Council/New Democratic Party ticket and finished third in the second ward.
Ward was elected to city council on his second attempt in 1985
, the only successful candidate to be endorsed by the labour council. He was re-elected without opposition in 1988
. While on council, he served as chair of Brantford's Riverfest.
, defeating Liberal
incumbent Dave Neumann
in the Brantford
division. The New Democratic Party won a majority government
in this election under Bob Rae's leadership, and Ward entered the legislature as a government backbencher. He was parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Skills Development from 1990 to 1991 and then to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology from 1991 to 1993.
On February 3, 1993, he was promoted to minister without portfolio
in the Ministry of Finance
, where he worked under Finance Minister Floyd Laughren
. He did not have formal ministerial responsibilities, and his duties included represented the Rae government at events such as pre-budgetary consultations. Ward was credited with helping to bring a women's shelter
to Brantford during his time in government.
In May 1993, the Rae government cancelled a plan to move the computer and telecommunications division of the Ministry of Government Services
from Toronto
to Brantford, citing financial concerns. Three days earlier, Ward had told a local reporter that Brantford residents should not be worried about changes to the plan. Some criticized him as being unaware of shifts in government policy. Ward later confronted protesters who opposed the policy change and defended what he described as a "tough expenditures decision."
The New Democratic Party was defeated in the 1995 provincial election
, and Ward finished third against Progressive Conservative
candidate Ron Johnson in Brantford.
, Local 45. The Brant New Democratic Party honoured him for his involvement in public life in September 2000.
See the 1982 Brantford election page for information on O'Regan and Sywyk.
All provincial election information is taken from Elections Ontario
. Municipal results are taken from the Brantford Expositor
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the Canadian
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...
province of 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....
. He served in 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 1990 to 1995 as a New Democrat and was a minister in Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
's government from 1993 to 1995.
Early life and municipal career
Ward was a Bell CanadaBell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
employee before entering political life. Active in the labour movement, he served on the Brantford and District Labour Council
Brantford and District Labour Council
The Brantford and District Labour Council is a labour council in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. It is affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress.-External links:*...
and was named Labour Citizen of the Year in 1989. He ran for the Brantford City Council
Brantford City Council
The Brantford City Council is the governing body of Brantford, Ontario.The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors, two representing each of five wards...
in 1982
Brantford municipal election, 1982
The 1982 Brantford municipal election was held on November 8, 1982, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. The surrounding rural and small-town municipalities also held elections on the same day.-Results:...
on a Labour Council/New Democratic Party ticket and finished third in the second ward.
Ward was elected to city council on his second attempt in 1985
Brantford municipal election, 1985
The 1985 Brantford municipal election was held on November 12, 1985, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. The rural and small-town communities surrounding Brantford also held elections on the same day.-Results:...
, the only successful candidate to be endorsed by the labour council. He was re-elected without opposition in 1988
Brantford municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Brantford municipal election was held on November 14, 1988, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Elections were also held in the rural and small-town communities around the city.-Results:...
. While on council, he served as chair of Brantford's Riverfest.
Member of Provincial Parliament
Ward was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1990 provincial electionOntario 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....
, defeating 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...
incumbent Dave Neumann
Dave Neumann
David Emil Neumann is a politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He was the mayor of Brantford from 1980 to 1987 and served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990...
in the Brantford
Brantford (electoral district)
Brantford was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1925 and from 1949 to 1968, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1986 to 1999....
division. The New Democratic Party won a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in this election under Bob Rae's leadership, and Ward entered the legislature as a government backbencher. He was parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Skills Development from 1990 to 1991 and then to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology from 1991 to 1993.
On February 3, 1993, he was promoted to minister without portfolio
Minister without Portfolio
A minister without portfolio is either a government minister with no specific responsibilities or a minister that does not head a particular ministry...
in the Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Ontario)
The Ministry of Finance is a portfolio in the Executive Council of Ontario commonly known as the cabinet. The Finance Minister is responsible for managing the fiscal, financial and related regulatory affairs of the Canadian province of Ontario...
, where he worked under Finance Minister Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren
Floyd Laughren is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He sat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1998 as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, and served as Finance Minister and Deputy Premier in the government of Bob Rae.-Background:Laughren's childhood was far...
. He did not have formal ministerial responsibilities, and his duties included represented the Rae government at events such as pre-budgetary consultations. Ward was credited with helping to bring a women's shelter
Women's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
to Brantford during his time in government.
In May 1993, the Rae government cancelled a plan to move the computer and telecommunications division of the Ministry of Government Services
Ministry of Government Services (Ontario)
The Ministry of Government Services is responsible for the delivery and management of government operations. Its goal is to provide cost-effective services to all residents and businesses and to the Ontario Public Service. It replaced the former Management Board Secretariat and the former Ministry...
from Toronto
Toronto
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...
to Brantford, citing financial concerns. Three days earlier, Ward had told a local reporter that Brantford residents should not be worried about changes to the plan. Some criticized him as being unaware of shifts in government policy. Ward later confronted protesters who opposed the policy change and defended what he described as a "tough expenditures decision."
The New Democratic Party was defeated 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 Ward finished third against 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...
candidate Ron Johnson in Brantford.
After politics
Ward returned to private life after 1995, working for Bell Canada in business technology. At one time, he served as president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of CanadaCommunications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada
See also Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol SCEPCommunications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, abbreviated CEP in English and SCEP in French, is a largely private sector labour union with 150,000 members...
, Local 45. The Brant New Democratic Party honoured him for his involvement in public life in September 2000.
Electoral record
See the 1985 Brantford election page for information on Potter and Mellor.See the 1982 Brantford election page for information on O'Regan and Sywyk.
All provincial election information is taken from Elections Ontario
Elections Ontario
Elections Ontario is a non-partisan Agency of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. They work under the Chief Electoral Officer, an officer of the Legislative Assembly. responsible for the conduct of provincial elections.-External links:*...
. Municipal results are taken from the Brantford Expositor
Brantford Expositor
The Brantford Expositor is an English language newspaper based in Brantford, Ontario and owned by Osprey Media Group Inc. a subsidiary of Sun Media...
.