Marion Bryden
Encyclopedia
Marion Helen Bryden is a former politician
in Ontario
, Canada
. She was a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1975 to 1990.
, the University of Toronto
and the Ontario College of Education. She has been a member of the Canadian Council of Social Development, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. Bryden was also active as a union organizer, and as a researcher and statistician for the Canadian Tax Federation. During the 1960s, she served as president of the Ontario Woodsworth Memorial Foundation. Her husband, Kenneth Bryden
, was a member of the Ontario Legislature from 1959 to 1967.
, defeating incumbent Progressive Conservative
Thomas Wardle by almost 3,000 votes in the riding of Beaches—Woodbine
. She defeated Wardle again by a narrower margin in the 1977 election
. In the 1981 provincial election
, Bryden defeated Progressive Conservative Paul Christie
by only 324 votes amid provincial setbacks for the NDP. She supported Ian Deans
for party leader in 1978 which was won by Michael Cassidy
. She supported Bob Rae
for the party leadership in 1982.
In 1980, Bryden proposed an environmental bill of rights which would have granted rights to people to challenge polluting companies without first having to prove damages. The bill was blocked by a group of 29 Conservative members. At the time, house rules allowed 20 members to block votes on a private member's bill
.
Bryden defeated Christie again by a much greater margin in the 1985 provincial election
, and won without difficulty for the redistributed riding of in the 1987 election
. She retired prior to the 1990 election, at age seventy-two. The Beaches—Woodbine riding, now renamed as Beaches—East York
, has remained in NDP hands since that time with Bryden being succeeded by Frances Lankin
and Michael Prue
.
From 1985 to 1990, Bryden served as her party's critic for Colleges and Universities, the Solicitor-General, Correctional Services, Seniors' Issues, Revenue and Transport. She was known as an effective constituency representative.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
. She was a New Democratic Party 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 1975 to 1990.
Background
Bryden was educated at the University of ManitobaUniversity of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
, 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...
and the Ontario College of Education. She has been a member of the Canadian Council of Social Development, the Elizabeth Fry Society, and the Federation of Ontario Naturalists. Bryden was also active as a union organizer, and as a researcher and statistician for the Canadian Tax Federation. During the 1960s, she served as president of the Ontario Woodsworth Memorial Foundation. Her husband, Kenneth Bryden
Kenneth Bryden
Walter Kenneth Bryden was a Co-operative Commonwealth Federation/NDP member of the Ontario legislature from 1959 to 1967, an economist, academic, civil servant and author.-Background:...
, was a member of the Ontario Legislature from 1959 to 1967.
Politics
Marion Bryden was first elected to the Ontario legislature in the 1975 provincial electionOntario 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....
, defeating incumbent 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...
Thomas Wardle by almost 3,000 votes in the riding of Beaches—Woodbine
Beaches—Woodbine (provincial electoral district)
Beaches—Woodbine was a provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1967 by merging the former ridings of Woodbine and Beaches....
. She defeated Wardle again by a narrower margin 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....
. In the 1981 provincial 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....
, Bryden defeated Progressive Conservative Paul Christie
Paul Christie
Paul Christie is a municipal politician and administrator in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Toronto and Metro Councillor for the Metro ward of East Toronto from 1985–1997 and as supervisor of the Toronto District School Board for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years.Christie was born in...
by only 324 votes amid provincial setbacks for the NDP. She supported Ian Deans
Ian Deans
Ian Deans is a Canadian politician.Born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, Deans moved to Canada as a youth and found work as a firefighter...
for party leader in 1978 which was won by Michael Cassidy
Michael Cassidy
Michael Morris Cassidy is a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1984, and in the Canadian House of Commons from 1984 to 1988...
. She supported Bob Rae
Bob Rae
Robert Keith "Bob" Rae, PC, OC, OOnt, QC, MP is a Canadian politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
for the party leadership in 1982.
In 1980, Bryden proposed an environmental bill of rights which would have granted rights to people to challenge polluting companies without first having to prove damages. The bill was blocked by a group of 29 Conservative members. At the time, house rules allowed 20 members to block votes on a private member's bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
.
Bryden defeated Christie again by a much greater margin 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...
, and won without difficulty for the redistributed riding of in 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...
. She retired prior to the 1990 election, at age seventy-two. The Beaches—Woodbine riding, now renamed as Beaches—East York
Beaches—East York (provincial electoral district)
Beaches—East York is a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It elects one member to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.It was created in 1999 from parts of Beaches—Woodbine , Don Mills , and York East ....
, has remained in NDP hands since that time with Bryden being succeeded by Frances Lankin
Frances Lankin
Frances Lankin, PC is a former president and CEO of United Way Toronto, and a former Ontario MPP and cabinet minister. On November 30, 2010, Frances Lankin was appointed by the province to co-chair, along with Dr. Munir Sheikh, a comprehensive review of social assistance in Ontario...
and Michael Prue
Michael Prue
Michael D. Prue is a Canadian politician, who represents the riding of Beaches—East York in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He is the New Democratic Party critic for Finance, Public Infrastructure Renewal, Community and Social Services and the Management Board of Cabinet, and for issues...
.
From 1985 to 1990, Bryden served as her party's critic for Colleges and Universities, the Solicitor-General, Correctional Services, Seniors' Issues, Revenue and Transport. She was known as an effective constituency representative.