Doug Galt
Encyclopedia
Doug Galt is a politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1995 to 2003, and an unsuccessful contender for the Canadian House of Commons
in 2004.
Galt was a veterinarian
before entering political life. He was an overseas veterinary pathologist and project coordinator for CIDA
in 1988 and 1992, and retired as head of the Brighton
Veterinary Services Lab in 1994. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as a warden in Northumberland County
, and as reeve of Cramahe Township
. Galt was also a school trustee, and chaired the Colborne-Cramahe Community Economic Development Commission in 1994. In the late 1980s, he attended Queen's University and earned a Master's Degree
in public administration.
Galt was elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1995 provincial election
, defeating incumbent Liberal
Joan Fawcett
by over 6,000 votes in the Northumberland
riding. The Progressive Conservatives won the election under the leadership of Mike Harris
, and Galt sat as a government backbencher. He became known for asking "softball" questions (i.e. inoffensive questions which praise the sitting government, and allow ministers to outline new policy initiatives).
Galt was re-elected in the 1999 provincial election
, though by only 903 votes over Liberal Carolyn Campbell. He introduced a resolution in the Legislature to bring forward greater protection against cruelty to animals and tried to ban riding in the back of pick-up trucks. Galt also introduced a Private Member's Bill to create a Robert Baldwin
Day in Ontario
which was later endorsed by Andrew Redden in an article published in the Canadian Parliamentary Review
. In 2000, Galt precipitated a minor crisis in the legislature by accidentally reading out the names of certain young offenders, whose identities were protected by law. Galt was actually praising the young offenders for graduating from a young offenders program while forgetting that they were still young offenders. Rob Sampson
, the Minister of Correctional Services, had to temporarily resign from office to show ministerial accountability for Galt's error.
Galt served as chair of the Premier's Task Force on Rural Economic Renewal, which toured the province and consulted with other jurisdictions. Amongst other initiatives, the findings of this Task Force led to the creation of the O.S.T.A.R. program and Rural Economic Development funding initiative.
Galt supported Ernie Eves
to replace Harris as party leader in 2002, and was named by Eves as a minister without portfolio
and chief government Whip
on August 22 of that year.
The Progressive Conservatives were defeated in the 2003 provincial election
, and Galt lost his seat to Liberal candidate Lou Rinaldi
by approximately 2,500 votes.
In early 2004, Galt supported Tony Clement
's unsuccessful campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
.
Galt himself ran as a Conservative in the 2004 federal election
, challenging Liberal
incumbent Paul Macklin
in the federal riding of Northumberland
. Macklin defeated Galt by only 313 votes.
Galt currently lives in the hamlet of Salem, Ontario
. In late 2004, he endorsed Frank Klees
to lead the Ontario PC Party.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in 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....
, 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 2003, and an unsuccessful contender for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in 2004.
Galt was a veterinarian
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
before entering political life. He was an overseas veterinary pathologist and project coordinator for CIDA
Canadian International Development Agency
The Canadian International Development Agency was formed in 1968 by the Canadian government. CIDA administers foreign aid programs in developing countries, and operates in partnership with other Canadian organizations in the public and private sectors as well as other international organizations...
in 1988 and 1992, and retired as head of the Brighton
Brighton, Ontario
Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, approximately east of Toronto and west of Kingston. It is intersected by both Highway 401 and the former Highway 2. It is on the West end of the Bay of Quinte on the entrance of the Murray Canal....
Veterinary Services Lab in 1994. He began his political career at the municipal level, serving as a warden in Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Ontario
Northumberland County is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in central Ontario, Canada. It is located east of Durham County , west of Hastings, southeast of Kawartha Lakes and south of Peterborough County. The county seat is Cobourg...
, and as reeve of Cramahe Township
Cramahe, Ontario
Cramahe is a rural township located in Northumberland County in central Ontario, Canada.Joseph Keeler opened a store on the site of present-day Colborne about 1819. A community began to grow as other small businessmen followed suit...
. Galt was also a school trustee, and chaired the Colborne-Cramahe Community Economic Development Commission in 1994. In the late 1980s, he attended Queen's University and earned a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in public administration.
Galt 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...
, defeating incumbent 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...
Joan Fawcett
Joan Fawcett
Joan M. Fawcett is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1995....
by over 6,000 votes in the Northumberland
Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968 and from 1987 to 2003, ad in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007....
riding. The Progressive Conservatives won the election under the leadership 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 Galt sat as a government backbencher. He became known for asking "softball" questions (i.e. inoffensive questions which praise the sitting government, and allow ministers to outline new policy initiatives).
Galt was 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....
, though by only 903 votes over Liberal Carolyn Campbell. He introduced a resolution in the Legislature to bring forward greater protection against cruelty to animals and tried to ban riding in the back of pick-up trucks. Galt also introduced a Private Member's Bill to create a Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin
Robert Baldwin was born at York . He, along with his political partner Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, led the first responsible ministry in Canada, regarded by some as the first truly Canadian government....
Day in 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....
which was later endorsed by Andrew Redden in an article published in the Canadian Parliamentary Review
Canadian Parliamentary Review
The Canadian Parliamentary Review, or the Review is a quarterly publication of the Canadian members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The publication began as a newsletter known as the Canadian Regional Review in 1978 but was renamed in 1980. The stated objective of the journal is to...
. In 2000, Galt precipitated a minor crisis in the legislature by accidentally reading out the names of certain young offenders, whose identities were protected by law. Galt was actually praising the young offenders for graduating from a young offenders program while forgetting that they were still young offenders. Rob Sampson
Rob Sampson
Rob Sampson is a politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2003, and was a cabinet minister in the government of Mike Harris.-Career:Sampson has a Bachelor of Arts degree and an MBA from Queen's...
, the Minister of Correctional Services, had to temporarily resign from office to show ministerial accountability for Galt's error.
Galt served as chair of the Premier's Task Force on Rural Economic Renewal, which toured the province and consulted with other jurisdictions. Amongst other initiatives, the findings of this Task Force led to the creation of the O.S.T.A.R. program and Rural Economic Development funding initiative.
Galt supported 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:...
to replace Harris as party leader in 2002, and was named by Eves as a 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...
and chief government Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
on August 22 of that year.
The Progressive Conservatives 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 Galt lost his seat to Liberal candidate Lou Rinaldi
Lou Rinaldi
Luigino "Lou" Rinaldi is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Northumberland—Quinte West for the Ontario Liberal Party....
by approximately 2,500 votes.
In early 2004, Galt supported Tony Clement
Tony Clement
Tony Peter Clement, PC, MP is a Canadian federal politician, President of the Treasury Board, Minister for the Federal Economic Initiative for Northern Ontario and member of the Conservative Party of Canada....
's unsuccessful campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Galt himself ran as a Conservative in the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, challenging Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
incumbent Paul Macklin
Paul Macklin
Paul Harold Macklin, PC, MP is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Northumberland—Quinte West of the Liberal Party caucus from 2000 to 2006....
in the federal riding of Northumberland
Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968 and from 1987 to 2003, ad in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007....
. Macklin defeated Galt by only 313 votes.
Galt currently lives in the hamlet of Salem, Ontario
Salem, Ontario
Salem is a community located in the township of Centre Wellington, Ontario, Canada.Salem is the site of a gas station, local convenience store, two bridges over the Irvine River, a school, and a subdivision. It also has one traffic light, but has more gravel roads than paved ones...
. In late 2004, he endorsed Frank Klees
Frank Klees
Frank Klees is a Canadian politician and the Progressive Conservative member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Newmarket—Aurora north of Toronto. He was a candidate in the 2009 Progressive Conservative leadership election placing second behind victor Tim Hudak.-Early life:Klees was born...
to lead the Ontario PC Party.