David A. Balfour
Encyclopedia
David A. Balfour was a municipal politician in Toronto
, Canada
. He was active in civic politics from 1939 until 1955. This included twelve years on the Board of Control
, a longer service than anyone prior.
Balfour was born in Amherstburg, Ontario
. His father was MPP and later Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
William Balfour
. Balfour joined his father in Toronto at age seven and was educated at De La Salle College
. He went into business owning a stationary supply store and became active on the Separate School Board, serving there fifteen years.
He was first elected to city council in 1939. Throughout his political career Balfour was strongly identified as representing the city's Roman Catholic population. There were then few Catholic elected officials in Toronto as municipal politics was dominated by those affiliated with the Protestant Orange Order. One of Balfour's main issues was anti-communism
. Balfour represented Ward 4 which stretched from University Avenue to Bathurst Street. It was home to Kensington Market
and the area along Spadina Avenue home to the many factories of the garment industry. This area was home to many poor workers, and was also the centre of Toronto's large Jewish community. It was also the centre of the Canadian communist movement. During the 1940s several candidates affiliated with the communist Labour-Progressive Party
were elected to Toronto City Council
. After losing his seat in the 1943 election to communist J.B. Salsberg Balfour introduced a motion demanding Salsberg and fellow communist Stewart Smith
be barred from taking their seats. The motion was ruled out of order by mayor Frederick J. Conboy
.
Another campaign that brought Balfour much attention was his attacks on what he termed "salacious literature and suggestive art." He demanded the federal government act to ban books he considered obscene, and would name such books in city council to warn citizens about them. Among his targets was The Grapes of Wrath
, Double Indemnity
, Forever Amber, and The Decameron
. These campaigns brought Balfour much attention, both positive and negative, but had little effect. Fellow controller Hiram E. McCallum
argued that Balfour naming salacious books had the effect of greatly increasing their sales.
On municipal issues Balfour had an important lasting impact on the city of Toronto. He was the primary advocate of the creation of a public square in the centre of the city, which became Nathan Phillips Square
. He was also the main advocate for creating a system of one way streets downtown and for the introduction of parking meters.
He retired from politics due to ill health in 1955. He died the next year three weeks after suffering a heart attack. He had six children. One of his sons, Ronald, was killed in action in 1943.
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...
, 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 active in civic politics from 1939 until 1955. This included twelve years on the Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
, a longer service than anyone prior.
Balfour was born in Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg, Ontario
Amherstburg is a Canadian town near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County, Ontario. It is approximately south of the U.S...
. His father was MPP and later Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the presiding officer of the provincial legislature. Since 1990 the position has been elected by MPPs using a secret ballot. Previously, the Speaker had been appointed by the Premier of Ontario after consultation with the Leader of the...
William Balfour
William Balfour
William Douglas Balfour was speaker of the Legislature of Ontario in 1895-1896 and served as Liberal MLA for Essex South from 1882 to 1896....
. Balfour joined his father in Toronto at age seven and was educated at De La Salle College
De La Salle College (Toronto)
De La Salle College "Oaklands" is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Toronto, Ontario. It is operated by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools as a university preparatory institution in the Roman Catholic tradition as founded by Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle in...
. He went into business owning a stationary supply store and became active on the Separate School Board, serving there fifteen years.
He was first elected to city council in 1939. Throughout his political career Balfour was strongly identified as representing the city's Roman Catholic population. There were then few Catholic elected officials in Toronto as municipal politics was dominated by those affiliated with the Protestant Orange Order. One of Balfour's main issues was anti-communism
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
. Balfour represented Ward 4 which stretched from University Avenue to Bathurst Street. It was home to Kensington Market
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington...
and the area along Spadina Avenue home to the many factories of the garment industry. This area was home to many poor workers, and was also the centre of Toronto's large Jewish community. It was also the centre of the Canadian communist movement. During the 1940s several candidates affiliated with the communist Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
were elected to Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
. After losing his seat in the 1943 election to communist J.B. Salsberg Balfour introduced a motion demanding Salsberg and fellow communist Stewart Smith
Stewart Smith (politician)
Stewart Smith was a long-time leading member of the Communist Party of Canada. He also served on Toronto City Council for a period in the 1930s and 1940s....
be barred from taking their seats. The motion was ruled out of order by mayor Frederick J. Conboy
Frederick J. Conboy
Frederick Joseph Conboy was a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1941 to 1944....
.
Another campaign that brought Balfour much attention was his attacks on what he termed "salacious literature and suggestive art." He demanded the federal government act to ban books he considered obscene, and would name such books in city council to warn citizens about them. Among his targets was The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962....
, Double Indemnity
Double Indemnity (novel)
Double Indemnity is a highly influential 1943 crime novel, written by American journalist-turned-novelist James M. Cain. The book was first published in serial form for Liberty magazine in 1936. Following that, Double Indemnity appeared as a one of "three long short tales" in the collection Three...
, Forever Amber, and The Decameron
The Decameron
The Decameron, also called Prince Galehaut is a 14th-century medieval allegory by Giovanni Boccaccio, told as a frame story encompassing 100 tales by ten young people....
. These campaigns brought Balfour much attention, both positive and negative, but had little effect. Fellow controller Hiram E. McCallum
Hiram E. McCallum
Hiram Emerson McCallum was a mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1948-1951.Born in East Caledon, Ontario, his first job was at The Mail and Empire newspaper as a clerk in the advertising department. From there, he started his own printing plant in 1931...
argued that Balfour naming salacious books had the effect of greatly increasing their sales.
On municipal issues Balfour had an important lasting impact on the city of Toronto. He was the primary advocate of the creation of a public square in the centre of the city, which became Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square
Nathan Phillips Square is an urban plaza that forms the forecourt to Toronto City Hall, or New City Hall, at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street, and named for Nathan Phillips, mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962. The square opened in 1965, and, as with the City Hall, the square was...
. He was also the main advocate for creating a system of one way streets downtown and for the introduction of parking meters.
He retired from politics due to ill health in 1955. He died the next year three weeks after suffering a heart attack. He had six children. One of his sons, Ronald, was killed in action in 1943.