Hugh O'Neil
Encyclopedia
Hugh Patrick O'Neil is a former politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was a Liberal
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson
.
O'Neil was educated at Peterborough
Teachers' College, and worked as a teacher and real estate broker before entering political life.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
, defeating Progressive Conservative
candidate Robin Jeffrey by 659 votes in the eastern Ontario riding of Quinte. He was re-elected by a much greater margin in the 1977 provincial election
, and in the elections of 1981
, 1985
, 1989, and 1990
.
The Liberals under David Peterson formed a minority government
following the 1985 election, and O'Neil was appointed as Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology on June 26, 1985. He was re-elected again in the 1987 provincial election
, in which the Liberals won a landslide majority.
After the election, O'Neil was named Minister of Tourism and Recreation. Following a cabinet shuffle, he was named as Minister of Mines on August 2, 1989. He also became Minister of Culture and Communications on June 5, 1990. In addition, O'Neil served as Peterson's regional minister for eastern Ontario.
The Liberals were defeated by the New Democratic Party
in the 1990 provincial election
. O'Neil was re-elected in Quinte, though by a reduced margin. He served as his party's critic for Tourism and Recreation for the entirety of the next parliament, and did not run for re-election in 1995, choosing instead to retire from politics and return to a business career in real estate.
He now owns and manages developments in the residential, commercial and industrial sector.
Since retirign from politics in 1995 O'Neil has been actively involved in his community and has served as:
Honorary Colonel - Canadian Armed Forces 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Canadian Forces Base Trenton
Honorary Chair - The Loyalist College Foundation Board of Directors
Honorary Chair - Festival of Trees Belleville, in support of the Quinte Arts Council and The Lung Association
Honorary Patron of the Quinte Symphony Orchestra
Honorary Chair - The Quinte Ballet School of Canada's Gala Dinner and Auction to raise funds in support of the school's scholarship and bursary program
Vice-Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Board of Directors - an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture which receives approx. 120 million dollars a year to dispurse
Campaign Advisor / Fundraiser for the new 32 million dollar Hastings Manor Foundation Board Seniors Residence
One of Four Honorary Fundraising Chairs for the new Trenton RCAF Museum. Other chairs included Mr. Roy Bonisteel, Hon. Lincoln Alexander and Len Birchall
Mr. O'Neil is a recipient of Canada's 125th Commemorative Medal, Queen's "Silver Jubilee" Medal (1952–1977), Medal of Distinction - International Association of Lion's Clubs (1984), and an Honorary Diploma in Applied Arts and Technology from Loyalist College.
Mr. O'Neil is married to Donna Grace (McColl) and they have two children: David and Catherine.
The O'Neil collection of papers, photos, and legislative records is available for viewings at the Quinte Genealogy Centre located in the Quinte West Public Library in Trenton, Ontario.
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...
. He was a 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 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 1975 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson
David Peterson
David Robert Peterson, PC, O.Ont was the 20th Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years....
.
O'Neil was educated at Peterborough
Peterborough, Ontario
Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks...
Teachers' College, and worked as a teacher and real estate broker before entering political life.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1975
The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the 30th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating 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...
candidate Robin Jeffrey by 659 votes in the eastern Ontario riding of Quinte. He was re-elected by a much greater margin in the 1977 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1977
The Ontario general election of 1977 was held on June 9, 1977, to elect the 125 members of the 31st Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and in the elections of 1981
Ontario general election, 1981
The Ontario general election of 1981 was held on March 19, 1981, to elect members of the 32nd Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, 1985
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...
, 1989, and 1990
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
.
The Liberals under David Peterson formed a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
following the 1985 election, and O'Neil was appointed as Minister of Industry, Trade and Technology on June 26, 1985. He was re-elected again in the 1987 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1987
The Ontario general election of 1987 was held on September 10, 1987, to elect members of the 34th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada.The governing Ontario Liberal Party, led by David Peterson, was returned to power with a large majority...
, in which the Liberals won a landslide majority.
After the election, O'Neil was named Minister of Tourism and Recreation. Following a cabinet shuffle, he was named as Minister of Mines on August 2, 1989. He also became Minister of Culture and Communications on June 5, 1990. In addition, O'Neil served as Peterson's regional minister for eastern Ontario.
The Liberals were defeated by the New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
in the 1990 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1990
The Ontario general election of 1990 was held on September 6, 1990, to elect members of the 35th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada....
. O'Neil was re-elected in Quinte, though by a reduced margin. He served as his party's critic for Tourism and Recreation for the entirety of the next parliament, and did not run for re-election in 1995, choosing instead to retire from politics and return to a business career in real estate.
He now owns and manages developments in the residential, commercial and industrial sector.
Since retirign from politics in 1995 O'Neil has been actively involved in his community and has served as:
Honorary Colonel - Canadian Armed Forces 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, Canadian Forces Base Trenton
Honorary Chair - The Loyalist College Foundation Board of Directors
Honorary Chair - Festival of Trees Belleville, in support of the Quinte Arts Council and The Lung Association
Honorary Patron of the Quinte Symphony Orchestra
Honorary Chair - The Quinte Ballet School of Canada's Gala Dinner and Auction to raise funds in support of the school's scholarship and bursary program
Vice-Chair of the Ontario Trillium Foundation Board of Directors - an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Culture which receives approx. 120 million dollars a year to dispurse
Campaign Advisor / Fundraiser for the new 32 million dollar Hastings Manor Foundation Board Seniors Residence
One of Four Honorary Fundraising Chairs for the new Trenton RCAF Museum. Other chairs included Mr. Roy Bonisteel, Hon. Lincoln Alexander and Len Birchall
Mr. O'Neil is a recipient of Canada's 125th Commemorative Medal, Queen's "Silver Jubilee" Medal (1952–1977), Medal of Distinction - International Association of Lion's Clubs (1984), and an Honorary Diploma in Applied Arts and Technology from Loyalist College.
Mr. O'Neil is married to Donna Grace (McColl) and they have two children: David and Catherine.
The O'Neil collection of papers, photos, and legislative records is available for viewings at the Quinte Genealogy Centre located in the Quinte West Public Library in Trenton, Ontario.