John Melville Turner
Encyclopedia
John Melville Turner is a former politician in the province of Ontario
, Canada
. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1971 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
. He was the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 1981 to 1985.
Turner was born and educated in Peterborough, Ontario
. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
as a Pilot Officer from 1942 to 1945, and later worked as a business manager. He was an alderman
in Peterborough from 1969 to 1971, and also served on the city health board.
, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Walter Pitman
by 590 votes in the Peterborough
constituency. He served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
's government for the next four years, and lost to NDP candidate Gill Sandeman by 505 votes in the 1975 election
.
Turner defeated Sandeman by 2,648 votes in the 1977 election
, and again served as a backbench supporter of Davis's government. He defeated Liberal Party
candidate Peter Adams by 6,699 votes in the 1981 election
, and was appointed as Speaker of the Legislature on April 21, 1981.
The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous minority government
under Frank Miller
's leadership in the 1985 provincial election
. Turner was re-elected in Peterborough, but was replaced as Speaker by Liberal Hugh Edighoffer
when the Tories lost control of the legislature after the election. Turner served as an opposition member for the next two years, and did not seek re-election in 1987.
Turner is a member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Peterborough Rotary Club.
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 served 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...
from 1971 to 1975, and again from 1977 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party
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...
. He was the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature from 1981 to 1985.
Turner was born and educated in Peterborough, Ontario
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...
. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
as a Pilot Officer from 1942 to 1945, and later worked as a business manager. He was an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Peterborough from 1969 to 1971, and also served on the city health board.
Political career
Turner was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1971 provincial electionOntario general election, 1971
The Ontario general election of 1971 was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, defeating New Democratic Party incumbent Walter Pitman
Walter Pitman
Walter George Pitman, OC, O.Ont is an educator and former politician in Ontario, Canada.Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 and a Master of Arts in 1954 from the University of Toronto....
by 590 votes in the Peterborough
Peterborough (electoral district)
Peterborough is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1953.The riding's borders have differed slightly since its creation in 1953, but has always included most or all of Peterborough County and its county seat of...
constituency. He served as a backbench supporter of Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
's government for the next four years, and lost to NDP candidate Gill Sandeman by 505 votes in the 1975 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....
.
Turner defeated Sandeman by 2,648 votes in the 1977 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 again served as a backbench supporter of Davis's government. He defeated 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...
candidate Peter Adams by 6,699 votes in the 1981 election
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....
, and was appointed as Speaker of the Legislature on April 21, 1981.
The Progressive Conservatives were reduced to a tenuous 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...
under Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
's leadership 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...
. Turner was re-elected in Peterborough, but was replaced as Speaker by Liberal Hugh Edighoffer
Hugh Edighoffer
Hugh Alden Edighoffer is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1967 to 1990, and was Speaker of the legislature during the administration of David Peterson....
when the Tories lost control of the legislature after the election. Turner served as an opposition member for the next two years, and did not seek re-election in 1987.
Turner is a member of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Peterborough Rotary Club.