Ernie Parsons
Encyclopedia
Ernie Parsons is a Justice of the Peace and former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. Until 2007 he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
, representing the riding of Prince Edward—Hastings
for the Ontario Liberal Party
.
Parsons received a Civil Engineering
degree from Carleton University
in 1969, and was employed by the Ministry of Transportation from 1969 to 1974, and taught Technology courses at Loyalist College
from 1974 to 1999. He also worked as a farmer, and was a board member of the Hastings County Children's Aid Society for twenty-five years and its chair for three. Parsons was a founding member of the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage, and sat on advisory committees to the Kingston Hotel Dieu
, the Kingston General Hospital
and the Queen's University Faculty of Medicine.
Parsons served on the school board of the Hastings—Prince Edward district from 1982 to 1999. His victory in the 1999 provincial election
was unexpected, as he defeated incumbent Progressive Conservative
Gary Fox
by 56 votes in Prince Edward—Hastings
, which most considered to be a safe Tory seat. The Progressive Conservatives won the election, and Parsons spent the next four years in opposition.
The Liberals won the 2003 provincial election
, and Parsons was re-elected in Prince Edward—Hastings by over 10,000 votes over Tory millionaire John Williams. He was named parliamentary assistant to Ontario Minister of Transportation Harinder Takhar
on October 23, 2003, and parliamentary assistant to Sandra Pupatello
, the Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services on September 27, 2004. He shared the latter position with Deb Matthews
.
Following the death of his adopted son, Sandy Parsons, Ernie introduced the Private Members Bill, Bill 43, Sandy's Law. This law requires establishments to display a sign warning of the dangers of consuming alcohol while pregnant.
Although Private member's bill
s rarely pass into law, Sandy's law received Unanimous Support
On June 30, 2007, Parsons was appointed a Justice of the Peace
effective July 12. The appointment has garnered accusations of patronage
from the opposition parties. As the appointment occurred within six months of the 2007 provincial election
, scheduled for October, there was no by-election to fill the vacancy. Parsons had already announced in late 2006 that he would not run in the 2007 election.
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...
. Until 2007 he was a 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...
, representing the riding of Prince Edward—Hastings
Prince Edward—Hastings (provincial electoral district)
Prince Edward—Hastings is a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario since 1999. Its population in 2006 was 113,227.-History:...
for the Ontario Liberal Party
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...
.
Parsons received a Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
degree from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in 1969, and was employed by the Ministry of Transportation from 1969 to 1974, and taught Technology courses at Loyalist College
Loyalist College
Loyalist College is an English-language community college in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.- History :...
from 1974 to 1999. He also worked as a farmer, and was a board member of the Hastings County Children's Aid Society for twenty-five years and its chair for three. Parsons was a founding member of the Hastings County Museum of Agricultural Heritage, and sat on advisory committees to the Kingston Hotel Dieu
Hotel Dieu Hospital (Kingston)
Hotel Dieu Hospital is a hospital in Kingston, Ontario. It is affiliated with Queen's University, and is a partner within Kingston's university hospitals, delivering health care, conducting research and training the health care professionals.-History:...
, the Kingston General Hospital
Kingston General Hospital
The Kingston General Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with Queen's University located in Kingston, Ontario. The hospital is a partner within Kingston's university hospitals, delivering health care, conducting research and training health care professionals.As the oldest public hospital...
and the Queen's University Faculty of Medicine.
Parsons served on the school board of the Hastings—Prince Edward district from 1982 to 1999. His victory 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....
was unexpected, as he defeated incumbent 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...
Gary Fox
Gary Fox
Gary John Fox is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 1999....
by 56 votes in Prince Edward—Hastings
Prince Edward—Hastings
Prince Edward—Hastings is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968...
, which most considered to be a safe Tory seat. The Progressive Conservatives won the election, and Parsons spent the next four years in opposition.
The Liberals won 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 Parsons was re-elected in Prince Edward—Hastings by over 10,000 votes over Tory millionaire John Williams. He was named parliamentary assistant to Ontario Minister of Transportation Harinder Takhar
Harinder Takhar
Harinder Jeet Singh Takhar is a politician in Ontario, Canada. Takhar was born to a Sikh family in the Indian state of Punjab, with a background in farming and civil service work. He moved to Canada in 1974, and arrived in Mississauga, Ontario in 1977...
on October 23, 2003, and parliamentary assistant to Sandra Pupatello
Sandra Pupatello
Sandra Pupatello was a politician in Ontario, Canada. She served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1995 to 2011 as a member of the Ontario Liberal Party, serving as a Minister in the government of Dalton McGuinty....
, the Ontario Minister of Community and Social Services on September 27, 2004. He shared the latter position with Deb Matthews
Deb Matthews
Deborah Drake Matthews, Ph.D. is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of London North Centre for the Ontario Liberal Party, and is currently the province's Minister of Health and Long-Term Care in the government of...
.
Following the death of his adopted son, Sandy Parsons, Ernie introduced the Private Members Bill, Bill 43, Sandy's Law. This law requires establishments to display a sign warning of the dangers of consuming alcohol while pregnant.
Although Private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
s rarely pass into law, Sandy's law received Unanimous Support
On June 30, 2007, Parsons was appointed a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
effective July 12. The appointment has garnered accusations of patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
from the opposition parties. As the appointment occurred within six months of the 2007 provincial election
Ontario general election, 2007
The Ontario general election of 2007 was held on October 10, 2007 to elect members of the 39th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Liberals under Dalton McGuinty won the election with a majority government, winning 71 out of a possible 107 seats with 42.2% of the popular...
, scheduled for October, there was no by-election to fill the vacancy. Parsons had already announced in late 2006 that he would not run in the 2007 election.