Noble Villeneuve
Encyclopedia
Noble Villeneuve is a former politician
in Ontario, Canada
. He was a Progressive Conservative
member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1983 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Frank Miller
and Mike Harris
.
Villeneuve did not attend university, and worked as a farmer and real estate appaiser after graduating from high school. He served as First Vice-President of the Ontario Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election
held on December 15, 1983, called after the death of Osie Villeneuve
, a distant cousin. Running in the riding of Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry, he defeated Liberal
candidate Johnny Whitteker by more than 4,000 votes. He was re-elected by about the same margin in the 1985 provincial election
. He endorsed Dennis Timbrell
for the party leadership in 1985.
The Progressive Conservative government of Frank Miller was re-elected in the 1985 election, but was reduced to minority status. Villeneuve was appointed to cabinet as a minister without portfolio
on May 17, 1985, but accomplished little in this position before the PC government was defeated in the house a month later. For the party's November 1985 leadership convention, he shifted his support from Timbrell to Larry Grossman
(Toronto Star, 15 October 1985). In the 1987 election
, Villeneuve defeated his Liberal opponent by only 607 votes. He was re-elected by a greater margin in the 1990 election
, and won a landslide victory in the 1995 election
as his party returned to power with a majority government.
Villeneuve was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs on June 26, 1995. He held these positions until the 1999 election
, and generally avoided the controversies which affected other ministries. Villeneuve was not regarded as one of the more right-wing figures in the Harris cabinet, though his government presided over considerable funding cutbacks in the agriculture department and the elimination of local representatives. (It may be noted that there were targeted funding increases in some areas.)
In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of provincial ridings from 130 to 103. This change meant that a number of sitting Members of Provincial Parliament had to compete against one another for re-election. Villeneuve faced incumbent Liberal John Cleary
in the new riding of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
, and lost by only 562 votes in a closely watched contest.
Villeneuve has generally remained out of the public eye since his defeat. In 2002, he suffered a non-fatal stroke.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Ontario, 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...
. He was a 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...
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 1983 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Frank Miller
Frank Miller (politician)
Frank Stuart Miller, was a Canadian politician, who served as the 19th Premier of Ontario for four months in 1985.-Early life and political career:...
and Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
.
Villeneuve did not attend university, and worked as a farmer and real estate appaiser after graduating from high school. He served as First Vice-President of the Ontario Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
He was first elected to the Ontario legislature in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
held on December 15, 1983, called after the death of Osie Villeneuve
Osie Villeneuve
Osie F. Villeneuve was a longtime politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and the Canadian House of Commons, and was an elected representative almost continuously from the 1940s until his death.Villeneuve was born in Maxville, Ontario, and educated in the...
, a distant cousin. Running in the riding of Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry, he defeated 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...
candidate Johnny Whitteker by more than 4,000 votes. He was re-elected by about the same 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...
. He endorsed Dennis Timbrell
Dennis Timbrell
Dennis Roy Timbrell is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1987, and was a cabinet minister in the governments of William Davis and Frank Miller.-Early life and career:...
for the party leadership in 1985.
The Progressive Conservative government of Frank Miller was re-elected in the 1985 election, but was reduced to minority status. Villeneuve was appointed to cabinet as a 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...
on May 17, 1985, but accomplished little in this position before the PC government was defeated in the house a month later. For the party's November 1985 leadership convention, he shifted his support from Timbrell to Larry Grossman
Larry Grossman
Lawrence "Larry" Sheldon Grossman was a politician in Ontario, Canada.-Early years:Born in Toronto, Grossman was the son of Allan Grossman, who had represented a downtown Toronto riding in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for twenty years after defeating Ontario's last Communist Member of...
(Toronto Star, 15 October 1985). 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...
, Villeneuve defeated his Liberal opponent by only 607 votes. He was re-elected by a greater margin 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....
, and won a landslide victory in the 1995 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...
as his party returned to power with a majority government.
Villeneuve was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs on June 26, 1995. He held these positions until the 1999 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 generally avoided the controversies which affected other ministries. Villeneuve was not regarded as one of the more right-wing figures in the Harris cabinet, though his government presided over considerable funding cutbacks in the agriculture department and the elimination of local representatives. (It may be noted that there were targeted funding increases in some areas.)
In 1996, the Harris government reduced the number of provincial ridings from 130 to 103. This change meant that a number of sitting Members of Provincial Parliament had to compete against one another for re-election. Villeneuve faced incumbent Liberal John Cleary
John Cleary
John Cleary is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 2003.Cleary was educated at St. Lawrence College...
in the new riding of Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh
Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh was a federal electoral district in eastern Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004, and in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007...
, and lost by only 562 votes in a closely watched contest.
Villeneuve has generally remained out of the public eye since his defeat. In 2002, he suffered a non-fatal stroke.