Brenda Elliott
Encyclopedia
Brenda Elliott is a politician
in Ontario, Canada
. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Progressive Conservative
from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of Mike Harris
and Ernie Eves
.
Born in Goderich
, Ontario
, Elliott has a Bachelor of Arts
degree from McMaster University
, and worked as a teacher and librarian before entering provincial politics. In 1972, she was elected to the Wellington County
Board of Education. She became interested in environmental causes during the 1990s, and in November 1989 opened a store in Guelph
, Ontario
called For Earth's Sake.
Elliott was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election
, defeating former Liberal
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Rick Ferraro
and incumbent New Democrat Derek Fletcher
in the Guelph
constituency. The Tories won a majority government in this election under Mike Harris
's leadership, and Elliott was appointed as Minister of Environment and Energy on June 26, 1995.
Due to Elliott's background in the environmental movement, many believed she would be a strong advocate for "green" policies in the Harris cabinet. She was dropped from cabinet on August 16, 1996, and played only a minor role in the legislature for the next three years.
Though her constituency seat was targeted by both the Liberals and the New Democratic Party, Elliott was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
for the redistributed riding of Guelph—Wellington by about ten thousand votes. On February 8, 2001, she returned to cabinet as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. When Ernie Eves
replaced Mike Harris as Premier of Ontario
in 2002, he named Elliott as his Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services.
The Tories were defeated in the 2003 provincial election
, and Elliott lost her seat to Liberal candidate Liz Sandals
by 2,800 votes.
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...
. She 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...
as 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...
from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the governments 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...
and Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
.
Born in Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
, 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....
, Elliott 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 McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, and worked as a teacher and librarian before entering provincial politics. In 1972, she was elected to the Wellington County
Wellington County, Ontario
Wellington County is a county located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is Guelph, a city which is politically independent, but Guelph's status as the seat means it houses the county's administrative offices...
Board of Education. She became interested in environmental causes during the 1990s, and in November 1989 opened a store in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, 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....
called For Earth's Sake.
Elliott was first 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...
, defeating former 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 Provincial Parliament (MPP) Rick Ferraro
Rick Ferraro
Enrico Eugenio Ferraro is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990....
and incumbent New Democrat Derek Fletcher
Derek Fletcher
Derek Fletcher is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, representing Guelph–Wellington.-Background:...
in the Guelph
Guelph (provincial electoral district)
Guelph is a provincial electoral district in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It was created for the 2007 provincial election. The entire riding was created from Guelph—Wellington riding.The riding includes all of the city of Guelph....
constituency. The Tories won a majority government in this election under 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 leadership, and Elliott was appointed as Minister of Environment and Energy on June 26, 1995.
Due to Elliott's background in the environmental movement, many believed she would be a strong advocate for "green" policies in the Harris cabinet. She was dropped from cabinet on August 16, 1996, and played only a minor role in the legislature for the next three years.
Though her constituency seat was targeted by both the Liberals and the New Democratic Party, Elliott was easily re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
for the redistributed riding of Guelph—Wellington by about ten thousand votes. On February 8, 2001, she returned to cabinet as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. When Ernie Eves
Ernie Eves
Ernest Lawrence "Ernie" Eves was the 23rd Premier of the province of Ontario, Canada, from April 15, 2002, to October 23, 2003.-Beginnings:...
replaced Mike Harris as Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
in 2002, he named Elliott as his Minister of Community, Family and Children's Services.
The Tories were defeated in the 2003 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2003
The Ontario general election of 2003 was held on October 2, 2003, to elect the 103 members of the 38th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and Elliott lost her seat to Liberal candidate Liz Sandals
Liz Sandals
Liz Sandals is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Guelph for the Ontario Liberal Party.-Background:...
by 2,800 votes.