John Roland Sweeney
Encyclopedia
John Roland Sweeney was a Canadian
politician and educator.
in his youth, and was educated at the University of Toronto
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree and a Master's Degree
in Education. A devout Roman Catholic, Sweeney served as the Waterloo
Catholic District School Board's first director of education from 1969 until 1975 when he entered provincial politics with his election to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
as a Liberal
Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP). Sweeney defeated Progressive Conservative
Morley Rosenberg by 1,745 votes in Kitchener—Wilmot in the 1975 election
, and was re-elected with increased majorities in the elections of 1977
and 1981
.
He was a candidate in the 1982 Liberal leadership convention
, but was eliminated on the first ballot, finishing last in a field of five candidates with only 122 votes.
He sat on the Opposition benches until the Liberals formed government under David Peterson
following the 1985 election
. Sweeney, easily re-elected in his own riding, was appointed Minister of Community and Social Services on June 26, 1985. He was retained in this position following the 1987 election
, and was named Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on August 2, 1989.
In 1989, Sweeney extended the Special Services at Home (SSAH) program to adults with developmental disabilities.
Sweeney was strongly pro-life
, and was vocal about his views on the subject. He did not support the Peterson government's liberalization of access to abortion
in the late 1980s.
Sweeney did not run in the 1990 election
, although he worked as a lobbyist at Queen's Park in the 1990s.
from 1992. He was hired to examine Ontario's education system in the 1990s, and recommended cutting the number of school boards.
In 1999, Sweeney joined with Alan Redway
and Marion Dewar
to release "Where's Home?", a comprehensive study of housing in Ontario.
, having survived several such attacks in the past. He left his wife, Kay, and their 10 children.
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...
politician and educator.
Career
Sweeney moved to OntarioOntario
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....
in his youth, and was educated 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...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree and 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 Education. A devout Roman Catholic, Sweeney served as the Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
Catholic District School Board's first director of education from 1969 until 1975 when he entered provincial politics with his election to 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...
as 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 Provincial Parliament (MPP). Sweeney defeated 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...
Morley Rosenberg by 1,745 votes in Kitchener—Wilmot 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....
, and was re-elected with increased majorities in the elections of 1977
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 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....
.
He was a candidate in the 1982 Liberal leadership convention
Ontario Liberal leadership conventions
Ballot-by-ballot results of leadership elections in the Ontario Liberal Party, a political party in the Province of Ontario, Canada.Note: Before 1919, the leaders of the Ontario Liberal Party were chosen by the party's elected Members of the Legislative Assembly...
, but was eliminated on the first ballot, finishing last in a field of five candidates with only 122 votes.
He sat on the Opposition benches until the Liberals formed government under 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....
following the 1985 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...
. Sweeney, easily re-elected in his own riding, was appointed Minister of Community and Social Services on June 26, 1985. He was retained in this position following the 1987 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...
, and was named Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing on August 2, 1989.
In 1989, Sweeney extended the Special Services at Home (SSAH) program to adults with developmental disabilities.
Sweeney was strongly pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, and was vocal about his views on the subject. He did not support the Peterson government's liberalization of access to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
in the late 1980s.
Sweeney did not run in the 1990 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....
, although he worked as a lobbyist at Queen's Park in the 1990s.
Post politics
Out of politics, he became chair of the Canadian branch of Habitat for Humanity, and served as Chancellor of St. Jerome's UniversitySt. Jerome's University
Saint Jerome's University is a public Roman Catholic university in Waterloo, Ontario. It is federated with the University of Waterloo.St. Jerome's, within the University of Waterloo, combines academics and a residence. Students may both reside at and take classes through St...
from 1992. He was hired to examine Ontario's education system in the 1990s, and recommended cutting the number of school boards.
In 1999, Sweeney joined with Alan Redway
Alan Redway
Alan Redway, PC, QC is a lawyer and former Canadian politician.After a career in municipal politics culminating in the role of mayor of East York, a borough of Metropolitan Toronto, Redway entered federal politics...
and Marion Dewar
Marion Dewar
Marion Dewar, CM was a prominent member of the New Democratic Party , mayor of Ottawa from 1978 to 1985 and a member of the Parliament of Canada from 1986 to 1988.-Early life:...
to release "Where's Home?", a comprehensive study of housing in Ontario.
Death
He died in 2001, aged 70, from a heart attackMyocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, having survived several such attacks in the past. He left his wife, Kay, and their 10 children.