John Robarts
Encyclopedia
John Parmenter Robarts, PC
, CC
, QC
(January 11, 1917 – October 18, 1982) was a Canadian
lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario
.
, Alberta
, making him the only Ontario premier not to have been born in Ontario. As a young man, he moved to London
, Ontario
with his family, where he studied at Central Collegiate (today, London Central Secondary School
) and at the University of Western Ontario
in Business Administration. While attending Western, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
He enrolled to study law at Osgoode Hall Law School
, but his education was interrupted by service with the Royal Canadian Navy
during the World War II
. He served as an officer on the HMS Uganda. After the war, he returned to law school and graduated in 1948.
of Leslie Frost
in 1958 as minister without portfolio
, and was promoted to Minister of Education in 1959.
In 1961, he became the 17th Premier of Ontario, and served in that capacity until 1971. A popular and well-respected leader, Robarts epitomized power and dignity. He was an advocate of individual freedoms and promoted the rights of the provinces against the centralizing initiatives of the federal government while also promoting national unity
against Quebec separatism and hosted the 1967 "Confederation of Tomorrow" conference in Toronto
in an unsuccessful attempt to achieve an agreement for a new Constitution of Canada
.
He initially opposed Canadian Medicare
when it was proposed, but later endorsed it fully following NDP candidate Kenneth Bolton
's upset by-election
victory on the issue in the London-area riding of Middlesex South
.
As a civil libertarian
, and a strong believer in the promotion of both official languages, Robarts opened the door to French education in Ontario schools. In 1972 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
.
Remembered for his steps to promote and improve education, he was responsible for the construction of York University
, the Ontario Science Centre
, the expansion of numerous teacher colleges, and launching the Ontario Scholarship fund.
before joining the boards of directors of several major corporations.
Later in his life, he suffered a series of debilitating stroke
s, and he committed suicide
on October 18, 1982.
He is buried in Toronto's St. James Cemetery.
at York University
was founded in 1982 in his name. The John P. Robarts Research Institute (renamed The Robarts Research Institute in 2005)
at the University of Western Ontario was officially opened in 1986. He served as Chancellor of UWO
from 1971 to 1976. Also in London
is the Robarts School for the Deaf
, and the John P. Robarts elementary school. The 14-storey John P. Robarts Research Library
at the University of Toronto
is also named in his honour.
Steve Paikin
wrote a biography, Public Triumph, Private Tragedy: The Double Life of John P. Robarts (Viking, 2005).
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(January 11, 1917 – October 18, 1982) was a Canadian
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...
lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
.
Early life
Robarts was born in BanffBanff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, making him the only Ontario premier not to have been born in Ontario. As a young man, he moved to London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, 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....
with his family, where he studied at Central Collegiate (today, London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School
London Central Secondary School is located at the corner of Dufferin Avenue and Waterloo Street in downtown London, Ontario. It is a member of the Thames Valley District School Board. It has approximately 1000 students in full attendance, ranging from grades nine to twelve...
) and at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in Business Administration. While attending Western, he joined the Delta Upsilon fraternity.
He enrolled to study law at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
, but his education was interrupted by service with the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
during the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served as an officer on the HMS Uganda. After the war, he returned to law school and graduated in 1948.
Political career
He practiced law in London, Ontario, and was elected a city alderman. In 1951, he was elected as an Ontario Progressive Conservative Party member of the [Ontario Provincial Parliament] from the city. He entered the cabinetCabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of Leslie Frost
Leslie Frost
Leslie Miscampbell Frost, was a politician in Ontario, Canada, who served as the 16th Premier from May 4, 1949 to November 8, 1961. Due to his lengthy tenure, he gained the nickname "Old Man Ontario".-Early years:...
in 1958 as 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 was promoted to Minister of Education in 1959.
In 1961, he became the 17th Premier of Ontario, and served in that capacity until 1971. A popular and well-respected leader, Robarts epitomized power and dignity. He was an advocate of individual freedoms and promoted the rights of the provinces against the centralizing initiatives of the federal government while also promoting national unity
Canadian federalism
Canada is a federation with two distinct jurisdictions of political authority: the country-wide federal government and the ten regionally-based provincial governments. It also has three territorial governments in the far north, though these are subject to the federal government...
against Quebec separatism and hosted the 1967 "Confederation of Tomorrow" conference in Toronto
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...
in an unsuccessful attempt to achieve an agreement for a new Constitution of Canada
Constitution of Canada
The Constitution of Canada is the supreme law in Canada; the country's constitution is an amalgamation of codified acts and uncodified traditions and conventions. It outlines Canada's system of government, as well as the civil rights of all Canadian citizens and those in Canada...
.
He initially opposed Canadian Medicare
Medicare (Canada)
Medicare is the unofficial name for Canada's publicly funded universal health insurance system. The formal terminology for the insurance system is provided by the Canada Health Act and the health insurance legislation of the individual provinces and territories.Under the terms of the Canada Health...
when it was proposed, but later endorsed it fully following NDP candidate Kenneth Bolton
Kenneth Bolton
Kenneth Bolton was an Anglican priest, archdeacon and Ontario New Democratic Party member of the Ontario legislature from 1969 to 1971 representing the riding of Middlesex South....
's upset by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
victory on the issue in the London-area riding of Middlesex South
Middlesex South
Middlesex South was a federal electoral district that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1883 to 1904. It was located in the province of Ontario...
.
As a civil libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, and a strong believer in the promotion of both official languages, Robarts opened the door to French education in Ontario schools. In 1972 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Remembered for his steps to promote and improve education, he was responsible for the construction of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, the Ontario Science Centre
Ontario Science Centre
Ontario Science Centre is a science museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near the Don Valley Parkway about northeast of downtown on Don Mills Road just south of Eglinton Avenue East...
, the expansion of numerous teacher colleges, and launching the Ontario Scholarship fund.
Post-Political Life
After retiring from office, John Robarts co-chaired the Task Force on Canadian Unity with Jean-Luc PépinJean-Luc Pépin
Jean-Luc Pépin, PC, CC was a Canadian academic, politician and Cabinet minister.Pepin was a political science professor at the University of Ottawa when he was first elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1963 election as a Liberal Member of Parliament from Quebec.From 1965 to 1972, he...
before joining the boards of directors of several major corporations.
Later in his life, he suffered a series of debilitating stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
s, and he committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on October 18, 1982.
He is buried in Toronto's St. James Cemetery.
Legacy
The Robarts Centre for Canadian StudiesRobarts Centre for Canadian Studies
The Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies is a research centre at York University in Toronto, Canada that supports interdisciplinary and discipline-specific research pertinent to Canadianists and Canada's place in the world. Faculty affiliated with the Robarts Centre are concerned with Canadian...
at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
was founded in 1982 in his name. The John P. Robarts Research Institute (renamed The Robarts Research Institute in 2005)
Robarts Research Institute
The Robarts Research Institute is in London, Ontario, Canada with a staff of more than 600 people. Robarts scientists include physicians and physicists, biologists and biomedical engineers, and the range of diseases they study include heart disease, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and many...
at the University of Western Ontario was officially opened in 1986. He served as Chancellor of UWO
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
from 1971 to 1976. Also in London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
is the Robarts School for the Deaf
Robarts School for the Deaf
The Robarts School for the Deaf is a provincial school in London, Ontario with both residential and day programs serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students....
, and the John P. Robarts elementary school. The 14-storey John P. Robarts Research Library
Robarts Library
The John P. Robarts Research Library, commonly referred to as Robarts Library, is the main humanities and social sciences library of the University of Toronto Libraries and the largest individual library in the university...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
is also named in his honour.
Steve Paikin
Steve Paikin
Steve Paikin is a Canadian journalist, author, and documentary producer at TVOntario . He is currently anchor and senior editor of TVO's flagship current affairs program The Agenda with Steve Paikin, and previously hosted TVO's Studio 2 and Diplomatic Immunity.A native of Hamilton, Ontario,...
wrote a biography, Public Triumph, Private Tragedy: The Double Life of John P. Robarts (Viking, 2005).