Len Wood
Encyclopedia
Len Wood is a former Canadian
politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1990 to 1999, sitting for the New Democratic Party of Ontario.
, but lost to Liberal
incumbent René Fontaine
by almost 4,000 votes. In the federal election of 1988
, he contested Cochrane—Superior for the federal NDP
and lost to Liberal
Réginald Bélair
by 1,201 votes.
The NDP won the 1990 provincial election
and Wood defeated Liberal Donald Grenier to win Cochrane North by 143 votes. He served as Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources
from 1990 to 1995.
Voting trends in the 1995 provincial election
were against the NDP in most parts of Ontario, and the party fell from government to third-party status. In Cochrane North, Wood countered the provincial trend and dramatically increased his majority: he defeated Liberal candidate Gilles Gagnon by almost 2,000 votes. In opposition, he served as critic for Northern Development and Mines.
Redistribution eliminated Cochrane North in the 1999 provincial election
, and Wood sought re-election in the newly-formed riding of Timiskaming—Cochrane
. He finished third, behind fellow incumbent David Ramsay of the Liberal Party and Rick Brassard of the Progressive Conservatives
.
Wood ran again for the federal NDP in the 2000 election
in Timmins—James Bay
, but lost to Bélair by 6,950 votes.
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. He was a 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 1990 to 1999, sitting for the New Democratic Party of Ontario.
Background
Wood completed a four-year millwright course after graduating from high school, and worked as a millwright mechanic before entering politics. He was actively involved in the labour movement and the Roman Catholic church.Politics
His first attempts at public office were unsuccessful. He contested Cochrane North (located in the province's northeastern corner) in the 1987 provincial electionOntario 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...
, but lost to 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...
incumbent René Fontaine
René Fontaine
Jacques Noe René Fontaine is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson....
by almost 4,000 votes. In the federal election of 1988
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, he contested Cochrane—Superior for the federal NDP
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
and lost to Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Réginald Bélair
Réginald Bélair
Réginald Bélair is a Canadian politician.Bélair is a former Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Timmins—James Bay from 1997 to 2004 and Cochrane—Superior from 1988 to 1997. Bélair had been an administrator, a manager and a political assistant...
by 1,201 votes.
The NDP won 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....
and Wood defeated Liberal Donald Grenier to win Cochrane North by 143 votes. He served as Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Natural Resources
Ministry of Natural Resources (Ontario)
The Ministry of Natural Resources is a government ministry of the Canadian province of Ontario that responsible for Ontario’s provincial parks, forests, fisheries, wildlife, mineral aggregates and the Crown lands and waters that make up 87 per cent of the province...
from 1990 to 1995.
Voting trends in the 1995 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1995
The Ontario general election of 1995 was held on June 8, 1995, to elect members of the 36th Legislative Assembly of the province of Ontario, Canada...
were against the NDP in most parts of Ontario, and the party fell from government to third-party status. In Cochrane North, Wood countered the provincial trend and dramatically increased his majority: he defeated Liberal candidate Gilles Gagnon by almost 2,000 votes. In opposition, he served as critic for Northern Development and Mines.
Redistribution eliminated Cochrane North in the 1999 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, and Wood sought re-election in the newly-formed riding of Timiskaming—Cochrane
Timiskaming—Cochrane (provincial electoral district)
Timiskaming—Cochrane is a provincial electoral district in northern Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.-History:...
. He finished third, behind fellow incumbent David Ramsay of the Liberal Party and Rick Brassard of the Progressive Conservatives
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...
.
Wood ran again for the federal NDP in the 2000 election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
in Timmins—James Bay
Timmins—James Bay
Timmins—James Bay is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997. Its population in 2001 was 84,001....
, but lost to Bélair by 6,950 votes.