John White (Ontario politician)
Encyclopedia
John White was a Progressive Conservative
cabinet minister in Ontario
, Canada
, and Member of Provincial Parliament for London South from 1959 to 1975. He served as provincial treasurer from January 1973 to January 1975.
Government.
Several years later, in May 1968, Premier John Robarts
assigned White the job of Chairman of the Select Committee on Taxation, an assignment to review the large of number of tax reform recommendations coming from Lancelot Smith’s Committee on Taxation. The Smith Committee was established in 1962 as a parallel study group to Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s Royal Commission on Taxation. Reporting in September 1968, it was during this period that White developed a reputation as a policy innovator predisposed to social engineering. White helped to introduce new policy instruments such as tax rebates and tax credits, which had been initiated by the Smith Committee and recommended by his special legislative committee on tax reform.
White also prided himself as the defender of small business and capitalism. He had owned small businesses in London, Ontario, the Canadian Industrial Supply Company, and later the Canada Financial Leasing Company before entering provincial politics.
As Minister of Trade and Development then Minister of Industry and Tourism, White pressed his interest in small business by participating in the expansion of government services to small manufacturers. He also established twelve “exploratory policy groups” composed of private and public sector representatives, which he assigned to report on small business issues and the Ontario economy. Before White was able to act on their recommendations, in January 1973 Premier William Davis appointed him Treasurer.
As Treasurer, White promoted energy conservation, a controversial energy tax, and an assortment of "red tory" policies and programs before red toryism degenerated into minority fetishism and an excuse for big spending later in the 1980s—prospects White would have abhorred.
As Chairman of Cabinet in 1975, White regularly turned back expansive government regulation-making of Ontario businesses by such Ministries as Consumer and Commercial Relations.
John White was a close confidant of Premier John Robarts and supported Bill Davis in his successful leadership bid to become Premier in 1971.
White also served as:
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...
cabinet minister 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...
, and Member of Provincial Parliament for London South from 1959 to 1975. He served as provincial treasurer from January 1973 to January 1975.
Career
In 1959, John White was nominated as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the riding of London South, and was elected to the Ontario Legislative Assembly later that year, serving as a backbencher in the Leslie FrostLeslie 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:...
Government.
Several years later, in May 1968, Premier John Robarts
John Robarts
John Parmenter Robarts, PC, CC, QC was a Canadian lawyer and statesman, and the 17th Premier of Ontario.-Early life:...
assigned White the job of Chairman of the Select Committee on Taxation, an assignment to review the large of number of tax reform recommendations coming from Lancelot Smith’s Committee on Taxation. The Smith Committee was established in 1962 as a parallel study group to Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s Royal Commission on Taxation. Reporting in September 1968, it was during this period that White developed a reputation as a policy innovator predisposed to social engineering. White helped to introduce new policy instruments such as tax rebates and tax credits, which had been initiated by the Smith Committee and recommended by his special legislative committee on tax reform.
White also prided himself as the defender of small business and capitalism. He had owned small businesses in London, Ontario, the Canadian Industrial Supply Company, and later the Canada Financial Leasing Company before entering provincial politics.
As Minister of Trade and Development then Minister of Industry and Tourism, White pressed his interest in small business by participating in the expansion of government services to small manufacturers. He also established twelve “exploratory policy groups” composed of private and public sector representatives, which he assigned to report on small business issues and the Ontario economy. Before White was able to act on their recommendations, in January 1973 Premier William Davis appointed him Treasurer.
As Treasurer, White promoted energy conservation, a controversial energy tax, and an assortment of "red tory" policies and programs before red toryism degenerated into minority fetishism and an excuse for big spending later in the 1980s—prospects White would have abhorred.
As Chairman of Cabinet in 1975, White regularly turned back expansive government regulation-making of Ontario businesses by such Ministries as Consumer and Commercial Relations.
John White was a close confidant of Premier John Robarts and supported Bill Davis in his successful leadership bid to become Premier in 1971.
White also served as:
- Minister of Colleges and Universities
- Minister of Tourism and Information
Preceded by: Charles MacNaughton Charles MacNaughton Charles McNaughton was a Canadian politician, who served as a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for the electoral district of Huron from 1958 to 1975.He was treasurer from 1968 to 1971 and also served as:... | Treasurer of Ontario 1973-1975 | Succeeded by: Darcy McKeough Darcy McKeough William Darcy McKeough, is a Canadian businessman and former politician. He is a member of the board of Hydro One and is chairman of McKeough Investments and McKeough Supply, and former CEO of Union Gas.... |