Dana Porter
Encyclopedia
Dana Harris Porter was a Canadian
politician and jurist.
After graduating from the University of Toronto
in 1921, Porter went to England
to continue his studies at Balliol College, Oxford
from which he graduated with a Master's degree in 1923. He returned to Toronto
where he was called to the bar, and joined the firm of Fennel, Porter & Davis.
Porter entered politics winning a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
representing the downtown Toronto
riding
of St. George
in the 1943 provincial election
that brought the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
to power.
He joined the cabinet
of Ontario Premier
George Drew as Minister of Planning and Development in 1944. In 1947, he instituted an airlift of 10,000 British immigrants to the province over the objections of the federal government. In 1948, he was appointed Minister of Education and Provincial Secretary
. When Drew left provincial politics to take the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
, Porter ran to succeed him as provincial leader, but won only 65 votes in the 1949 provincial Tory leadership convention
. He lost to Leslie Frost
.
In 1958, Porter left politics to accept an appointment as Chief Justice
of the Ontario Court of Appeal. He made a notable ruling in 1964, lifting a ban on the book Fanny Hill
.
Dana Porter's son, Julian Porter
, is a Canadian copyright and libel lawyer who ran unsuccessfully in the 1985 provincial election
as a Progressive Conservative in the same riding formerly represented by his father.
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...
politician and jurist.
After graduating 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...
in 1921, Porter went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to continue his studies at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
from which he graduated with a Master's degree in 1923. He returned to 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...
where he was called to the bar, and joined the firm of Fennel, Porter & Davis.
Porter entered politics winning a seat 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...
representing the downtown 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...
riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
of St. George
St. George (Ontario provincial electoral district)
St. George was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that returned Members of Provincial Parliament to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at Queen's Park. It was created in downtown Toronto in 1926 and was merged into the riding of St. George—St. David in 1987. The seat covered much...
in the 1943 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1943
The Ontario general election of 1943 was held on August 4, 1943, to elect the 90 Members of the 21st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
that brought the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
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...
to power.
He joined the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Ontario Premier
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...
George Drew as Minister of Planning and Development in 1944. In 1947, he instituted an airlift of 10,000 British immigrants to the province over the objections of the federal government. In 1948, he was appointed Minister of Education and Provincial Secretary
Provincial Secretary
The Provincial Secretary was a senior position in the executive councils of British North America's colonial governments, and was retained by the Canadian provincial governments for at least a century after Canadian Confederation was proclaimed in 1867...
. When Drew left provincial politics to take the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
, Porter ran to succeed him as provincial leader, but won only 65 votes in the 1949 provincial Tory leadership convention
Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership conventions
This page lists the results of leadership elections within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario .Before 1920, leaders of the Conservative Party were usually chosen by caucus...
. He lost to Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
.
In 1958, Porter left politics to accept an appointment as Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Ontario Court of Appeal. He made a notable ruling in 1964, lifting a ban on the book Fanny Hill
Fanny Hill
Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure is an erotic novel by John Cleland first published in England in 1748...
.
Dana Porter's son, Julian Porter
Julian Porter
Julian Harris Porter, QC , is a Canadian lawyer.The son of Canadian lawyer and former Attorney-General of Ontario Dana Porter, he is a graduate of the University of Toronto, and the Osgoode Hall Law School. He was called to the bar in 1964, and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1976...
, is a Canadian copyright and libel lawyer who ran unsuccessfully 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...
as a Progressive Conservative in the same riding formerly represented by his father.